British pair Jack Draper and Katie Boulter are through to the next rounds of the Japan Open and China Open respectively after wins against Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Townsend.
Draper, 22, took 84 minutes to beat second seed Hurkacz 6-4 6-4 in Tokyo, while Boulter won 6-4 6-4 against Townsend in Beijing in her first match since a disappointing second-round exit at the US Open.
Draper’s victory – his third against a top-10 opponent in 2024 – sets up a quarter-final against the winner between France’s Ugo Humbert and American Brandon Nakashima.
After becoming the first British man to reach the US Open semi-final since Andy Murray in 2012, Draper says he wants to continue to emulate the Scot.
“I see it as a responsibility to be the person who’s performing,” said Englishman Draper, who won two of seven break-point opportunities in the match.
“Andy has had a lot of success over a long period of time, and my biggest respect for him was that he did that with a lot of pressure on his shoulders, especially around Wimbledon time.
“I see it as a responsibility to achieve great things for myself and for British tennis.”
Boulter recovered from a slow start in Beijing to progress to the second round.
The British number one failed to take three break points in the opening game and lost her first service game.
But Boulter recovered to win 6-4 6-4, converting three of 12 break points along the way.
She will face the winner between American Coco Gauff and France’s Clara Burel next.
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