Boulter has won a Legion of new Fans in the city following a pair of Skilful, Tenacious and Animated Displays to Reach Friday’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open Quarter-Finals

After coming to Hong Kong to push herself out of her “comfort zone”, Katie Boulter has become obsessed with “one of the most incredible places in the world”.

Boulter has won a legion of new fans in the city following a pair of skilful, tenacious and animated displays to reach Friday’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open quarter-finals.

Hong Kong is Boulter’s 23rd and final individual tournament of a year that brought the 28-year-old her first WTA500 title, in San Diego in May.

A semi-finalist at last week’s WTA500 event in Tokyo, Boulter is reaching the end of “one of the longest trips I’ve done” following almost two months in Asia.

“It’s not something I’m used to and not something I will do regularly, because you have to be super smart [with managing schedules],” Boulter told the Post.

“I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, which is why I’m here.

And we are in Hong Kong, one of the most incredible places in the world.

“[The support from Hongkongers] has given me a warm heart to play in front of people who care about you and support you makes the journey much easier.

“It’s my first time [at the tournament] and I have really enjoyed everything.

I’m sure I will make many good memories here over [future] years, I would love to make it a permanent fixture [in my calendar].”

Boulter outlasted China’s Wang Xinyu over two absorbing sets on Wednesday to book her last-eight spot against in-form Anastasia Zakharova.

“I am so grateful I have more time here and a day off to explore Hong Kong,” Boulter said.

“I am obsessed with the whole place. The only other time I came was with [former British No 1] Laura Robson.

We had one day flying through, so we left the airport and hiked up to The Peak.

I loved every minute of it and would love to visit again.”

Boulter acknowledged hiking was out of the question on Thursday and joked that she would like to be “airlifted” to The Peak.

Her downtime on tour, she said, was typically devoted to the less energetic pursuit of hunting for the best coffee in town.

“When you are on the road, you try to find little things that make you feel at home, and, for me, one of those things is coffee ” Boulter said.

“The little things can be the biggest things. If you keep doing them, everything else fits into place.”

Boulter has yet to alight on a favourite Hong Kong coffee spot and was keen for tips on where to head for brunch on her day off.

After eating and exploring, she was planning to study Zakharova, ahead of a first meeting with the Russian.

Zakharova, who won back-to-back W100 titles in France and Spain over the past fortnight, blew away No 7 seed Varvara Gracheva, 6-3, 6-1, in one hour and one minute on Court No 1 on Thursday.

Victory over the world No 113 would ensure Boulter climbs two places in the rankings to a joint career high No 27.

When she walks on court, she will be plugged into the same music that inspired her before beating both Wang and first-round opponent Aoi Ito.

“It is a song called Lion that was made by Damian [Rodriguez Regaldo], who is part of my team,” Boulter said.

“I don’t know why it resonates with me, but I listened to it when I won in San Diego, so I thought, ‘why not bring it back?’”

Boulter said working with Andy Murray’s former fitness coach, Matt Little, had primed her to last “two, three, four hours on court whatever it takes to win”.

“Friday will be another battle and another opportunity to play good tennis,” she added.

“You know what you will get from me, I will push myself every day this week.

“It would be easy to call my season early, give in and allow myself to go home and res but I am too stubborn to not be out here.

I am looking forward to competing again it is what I love about tennis.”