Boulter produces emphatic win at 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, wildcard Sakatsume only managed to take one.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Iga Swiatek elected to end her season before the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, with the world number nine and six-time Grand Slam winner withdrawing from the Ningbo Open because of a thigh injury and announcing her year on tour is over.

The Finals, which feature the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the year, take place from 8-15 November.

British number one Arthur Fery was beaten by Croatian qualifier Borna Gojo in the opening round of the Lyon Open.

Fery, 24, was the eighth seed but went down 6-3 7-6 (7-2) against 28-year-old Gojo, who will face German Daniel Altmaier in the next round.

After making the semi-finals of Wimbledon this summer, Fery has struggled to find consistency and has now lost five of his past seven matches.

Former British number one Cameron Norrie exited at the same stage, beaten 6-3 3-6 6-3 by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, 60 places below the Scot at 100 in the rankings.

At the European Open in Brussels, fellow Scot Jacob Fearnley secured a straight-set victory over Hugo Gaston in the first round.

Fearnley, the British number three, defeated Frenchman Gaston 6-3 6-0.

Elsewhere in the opening round, Briton Toby Samuel lost 6-3 7-6 (7-3) to Belgian sixth seed Zizou Bergs.