By Chalien Dantes 

Katie Boulter easily bounced back at the Japan Open, delivering one of her best performances of the season with a straight-set win over world number 17 Linda Noskova. 

The British number three took the match 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in Osaka, snapping a tough run of early exits and booking her place in the second round against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea.

Boulter and Noskova traded service breaks in a tense opening set, but the 29-year-old Brit pulled ahead with a confident tiebreak.

She found her rhythm in the second, dominating on serve and looking far more assured than in recent outings. After a frustrating summer that saw her lose five first-round matches in seven tournaments, this win is a welcome boost to her confidence.

Cirstea, who came from behind to beat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, will be Boulter’s next test.