PARIS: Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek enjoyed winning returns to the Billie Jean King Cup on Friday to move Japan and Poland closer to the finals as former US Open champion Emma Raducanu survived a "muppet" moment.

Four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Osaka last played for Japan in the competition in 2020, since when she has become a mother.

In Tokyo, the 26-year-old defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to give Japan a commanding lead over Kazakhstan after Nao Hibino had beaten Anna Danilina 6-1, 6-0 earlier in their qualifying clash.

Osaka said she was "super-nervous" about playing in Japan for the first time since appearing at the Pan Pacific Open in September 2022.

World No. 1 Swiatek, back on national duty for the first time since 2022, eased past 158th-ranked Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-1 to give Poland the lead over Switzerland in Biel.

Magdalena Frech made it 2-0 with a come-from-behind 6-7 (8/10), 7-5, 6-3 victory over 18-year-old Celine Naef.

France, the three-time champions, are level 1-1 with Great Britain in Le Portel.

World No. 49 Diane Parry gave France the lead with a surprisingly easy 6-2, 6-0 win over 28th-ranked Katie Boulter.

Raducanu, back in the side after an injury-plagued season, pulled Britain level with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over French No. 1 Caroline Garcia.

Raducanu admitted to a moment of embarrassment at 5-1 in the decider when she mistakenly thought she had won the match.

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