Boulter produces emphatic win at Japan Open

Katie Boulter beat Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume 6-3 6-1 in the first round of the Japan Open, completing the rain-interrupted match on Tuesday. The emphatic win sends the British player into the second round, where she will face Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic.

Boulter had led by a set and 3-1 when rain stopped play in Osaka on Monday. She converted five of nine break points, while wildcard Sakatsume took only one of 13 break-point chances; meanwhile, world number nine Iga Swiatek withdrew from the Ningbo Open with a thigh injury, a setback to her bid to qualify for the WTA Finals, scheduled for 8-15 November.