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 is in action in Hong Kong later on Tuesday against 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez.
Jack Draper, just two days after winning the biggest title of his career in Vienna, will begin his Paris Masters campaign against Jiri Lehecka.
