Tennis: O'Brien eases through in WTA Tour event

British number three Katie O'Brien has continued her recent impressive form with victory in the first round of the Japan Open.

The Hessle player has moved to 94 in the world rankings after reaching the Tokyo ITF event semi-finals last week.

She celebrated her career-high ranking with victory over American Alexa Glatch in round one of the Japan Open, winning 6-3 6-4 against the world number 111.

O'Brien is likely to play top seed and US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the second round in Osaka.

O'Brien broke into the world's top 100 for the first time earlier this month and is now just one place below British number two Elena Baltacha in the standings.

The higher world ranking has allowed O'Brien to enter several WTA events this year alongside those on the second-tier ITF circuit, and the win over Glatch is her first at senior level since the US Open in August.