LAHORE  -  Japan outclassed Pakistan 3-0 in their Group B tie of the 2025 Junior Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying Event, held in Kazakhstan on Monday.

The Pakistan Davis Cup Juniors team, comprising Abubakar Talha, Mikaeel Ali Baig, Hamza Roman, and team captain Shahzad Khan, struggled to find momentum against a well-drilled Japanese side. Japan’s dominance was reflected in all three rubbers, as they dropped just one set across the tie.

In the opening singles, Japan’s Takahiro Kawaguchi set the tone with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Abubakar Talha, securing the first point for his team in just 1 hour and 15 minutes.The second singlessaw Mikaeel Ali Baig putting up a spirited fight but ultimately falling short against Motoharu Abe. Abe clinched the match 6-3, 7-5 in 1 hour and 48 minutes, doubling Japan’s lead and sealing the tie before the doubles could begin.

In the doubles rubber, the Japanese duo of Kawaguchi and Kanta Watanabe overcame the Pakistani pair of Hamza Roman and Abubakar Talha in a tightly contested encounter. Despite Pakistan claiming the first set 6-3, the Japanese came back strongly to take the next two sets 6-3, 10-3, wrapping up the third rubber and completing a clean 3-0 sweep.

While the Pakistani youngsters showed flashes of potential, the experience and consistency of the Japanese players proved decisive. Team captain Shahzad Khan acknowledged the gap in performance, praising the Japanese side and emphasising the importance of learning from such high-level encounters. The loss places Pakistan under pressure as they look to bounce back in the remaining group fixtures of this prestigious junior event, which serves as a key stepping stone to the world stage.