Boulter makes light work of Hong Kong opener

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.

Jack Draper, just two days after winning the biggest title of his career in Vienna, will begin his Paris Masters campaign against Jiri Lehecka later on Tuesday.

World number one Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Masters 1,000 event tournament in Paris on Tuesday with illness.

Italy’s Sinner said he had picked up a virus after arriving early in the city to practise for the event.

“Today I feel better already a little bit, but the body is not ready to compete and I still feel very, very weak,” the 23-year-old said.

“It doesn’t make sense to go on court and try to compete.”

Sinner will be hopeful of recovering before the season-ending ATP Finals, which take place in Turin from 13-20 November.