Katie Boulter advanced to the second round of the Japan Open after resuming play following a rain delay. The British tennis player was leading 6-3, 3-1 against Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume when the match was suspended on Monday due to adverse weather conditions in Osaka. Play resumed on Tuesday, with Boulter maintaining her momentum to close out the match 6-3, 6-1.

Boulter will face Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the next round. Reflecting on the interruption, Boulter said the pause presented a mental challenge, as she had to regroup and maintain focus to finish the match without extending it to a deciding set. "Yesterday was a tough spot to end at. I wanted to play last night and continue, but with the rain, unfortunately that wasn’t possible," Boulter said. "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."

In related WTA news, Iga Swiatek has confirmed her withdrawal from the Ningbo Open due to a thigh injury, putting her streak of qualifying for the WTA Finals since 2020 in jeopardy. The six-time Grand Slam champion sustained the injury during her semifinal loss to fellow Polish player and eventual champion Maja Chwalinska at the Wuhan Open last week. Swiatek’s unexpected absence leaves her prospects for the year-end championships uncertain.