Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka marked her return to the Billie Jean King Cup team event with a convincing win Friday as Japan took a 2-0 lead over Kazakhstan on Day 1 of their two-day qualifier.
Osaka defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6(5) in the second of the day's two matches at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum. The winner of the best-of-five, indoor hard-court tie will advance to November's Finals in Spain.
Currently ranked 193th, the four-time Grand Slam champion had 15 aces and 21 winners in her first appearance in the event, formerly named the Fed Cup, since February 2020.
It was also Osaka's first match in Japan since the Pan Pacific Open in September 2022 and since she gave birth to her first child in July 2023.
Earlier in the day, Nao Hibino had little trouble beating Anna Danilina 6-1, 6-0.
The reverse singles matches are scheduled for Saturday, followed by a doubles match if necessary.
World No. 4 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has not been named to the Kazakhstan team.
