Britain’s Katie Boulter made light work of Japan’s Aoi Ito to reach the second round of the Hong Kong Open.
Second seed Boulter beat world number 156 Aoi 6-4 6-4.
Boulter has enjoyed a career-best season, winning two WTA Tour titles and reaching a high of 27 in the world rankings.
The 28-year-old thanked the crowd afterwards for their support, saying she “needed a push” after playing in the semi-finals in Tokyo just three days earlier.
“It’s at the end of a long season and I am trying to push my body and myself as much as possible,” she said.
Boulter will face China’s Wang Xiyu for a place in the quarter-finals.
Fellow Briton Heather Watson lost 6-2 6-2 to 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez in the same event.
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