Boulter produces emphatic win at Japan Open

Britain's Katie Boulter claims a dominant win in her rain-affected first-round match against Himeno Sakatsume in the Japan Open. Katie Boulter claimed a dominant win in her rain-affected first round match against Himeno Sakatsume in the Japan Open. The British player was a set and 3-1 up against the home favourite when play was halted because of bad weather in Osaka on Monday. She completed the win on Tuesday as she secured a 6-3 6-1 victory. "Yesterday was a tough spot to end at," said Boulter, who will play Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland in the second round. "I wanted to play last night and continue but with the rain, unfortunately, that wasn't possible.

"It meant that I had to have the same mindset again today and just try to get over the line and focus on getting through the match. "I think I did that. I didn't want to be out here playing a third set so I'm pleased with today." Boulter, 30, took five of nine break points in the match and, even though she faced 13 break points, wild card Sakatsume only managed to take one. Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek's hopes of reaching the WTA Finals in Indian Wells have suffered a setback with the world number nine having withdrawn from the Ningbo Open because of a thigh injury.