Though Japan lost to Belarus 3-2 in last weekend's Fed Cup tie at Ariake Colosseum, there was some good news to emerge from the event.
Former Japan No. 1 Ayumi Morita, who has battled injuries the past several years, came off the bench on the second day of the tie to beat Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich and level the contest 2-2 heading into the doubles.
Morita, who was originally scheduled to only play in the doubles, was called into action by Japan captain Yuka Yoshida and responded with a gutsy performance in a 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-4 victory that took nearly three hours.