By British tennis star Katie Boulter has advanced to the second round of the Hong Kong Open with a decisive straight-sets victory over Japan’s Aoi Ito. The second-seeded Boulter, ranked world No. 29, overcame the 20-year-old Ito 6-4, 6-4, setting up a clash with China’s Wang Xiyu in the last 16.
Boulter displayed commanding form, securing key break points in the first set and clinching an early break in the second. Despite a spirited effort from Ito, Boulter sealed the match in 97 minutes. In her on-court interview, the Brit praised Ito’s unique playing style, adding, “Full credit to her; she’s so unique and so fun to watch—but not fun to play against!”
Addressing the crowd, Boulter expressed gratitude to her British supporters, saying, “Seeing so many British flags really made me feel at home.”
The 28-year-old has had a strong season, having recently reached the semi-finals at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. In 2024, Boulter captured her first WTA 500 title in San Diego and defended her Nottingham Open title by defeating former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.
