Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka lost to Sara Sorribes Tormo in straight sets on Friday as Japan opened its Fed Cup qualifying tie against Spain with two losses.
Playing on clay at the Centro de Tenis La Manga Club, Sorribes Tormo beat Osaka for the first time in three career matches, whipping her 6-0, 6-3 in 1 hour, 17 minutes.
Osaka hit 19 winners to just three for Sorribes Tormo, but also committed 50 unforced errors. Osaka took the first break in the second set only for Sorribes Tormo to break back and seize control by going up a break at 4-3.
Japan's world No. 86 Misaki Doi was defeated by No. 55 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-4 in the other singles match of the day.
"Our plan was for Osaka to win the first match, but she wasn't able to play the way she wanted," Japan captain Toshihisa Tsuchihashi said. "Doi also lost in a similar way, but her opponent was great so I would like to congratulate her on that."
Osaka will face Suarez Navarro and Doi will meet Sorribes Tormo in Saturday's reverse singles. Japanese pair of Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara will play Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov and Georgina Garcia-Perez in the doubles.
Spain has not lost to Japan in their three previous Fed Cup ties.
(Sara Sorribes Tormo (R) and Naomi Osaka)
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