The Chinese player is reigning champion and aiming to be the first player to win this event four times, and defeated home hopeful Jon Persson in five games at the Eriksdalshallen.

Persson started well and won the first game, before Fan took control and came out the winner, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7.

There was further Swedish disappointment in the country's capital as their two seeded players in the men's singles both suffered first-round losses today.

Mattias Falck, the number six seed, was beaten by China's Zhao Zihao in six games, 16-18, 11-9, 10-12, 11-7, 13-11, 11-7, while 16th-ranked Kristian Karlsson also lost to a Chinese player, Wang Chuqin, 11-6, 11-6, 11-9, 8-11, 7-11, 11-4.

In the women's singles, reigning champion Chen Meng of China eased into the round of 16 with a straight sets victory, beating Japan's Sakura Mori, 11-2, 11-8, 11-3, 11-4.

Her compatriots Ding Ning, the second seed, and Wang Manyu, ranked fourth, also enjoyed success on day one.

Ding beat Britt Eerland of The Netherlands 11-6, 11-5, 11-4, 11-6, while Wang overcame Austria's Yui Hamamoto 11-4, 5-11, 11-7, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3.

Another Chinese player, Lui Fei caused a major upset, as she beat Japan's number eight seed Kasumi Ishikawa in five games, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-6.

However, the Swedish were again disappointed as their seeded prospects, Matilda Ekholm and Linda Bergström, were beaten.

Ekholm was thrashed 4-0 by Honoka Hashimoto from Japan, 11-7, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9, while Bergström was beaten by China’s Wang Yidi, 11-3, 11-7, 11-6, 13-11.

Competition continues competition.