Third-seeded Chinese player Wang Yidi advanced to the second round of the WTT Champions Montpellier by defeating Japan's Hina Hayata three games to one.

Wang won their only previous singles meeting and started strongly in the first game, quickly going up 8-2 when Hayata sailed a shot long. However, Hayata fought back and saved a game point to level the score at 10-10. The world number 12 then gained a game point herself and executed a series of backhands before finding a winner to take the first game 14-12.

Wang bounced back in the second game, taking an early 8-3 lead. The world number five maintained her advantage and secured the game 11-7. She continued her good form in the third game, dominating Hayata and winning it 11-4 after her opponent hit wide.

The 28-year-old Wang, who had previously won titles at the WTT US Grand Slam and Champions Incheon earlier this year, built a 9-6 lead in the fourth game. She closed the match 11-6, completing a 3-1 victory to reach the last 16.

Reflecting on her performance, Wang said, "I took the lead at the start of every game, but when I was leading, I started to rush. My coach called a time-out and told me to slow down the pace. Generally speaking, I had no problems, except that I did not control the rhythm very well. After I slowed down, I performed well from the second to the fourth games."

China's Kuai Man lost the opening game 11-8 to Kim Nayeong of ROK.

The world champion from China returned strongly in the second game, scoring six consecutive points to win 11-5.

Kuai maintained momentum in the third game and built a 9-2 lead when Kim hit long. The world number four then wrapped up the game 11-6.

However, Kim fought back in the fourth game, winning five consecutive points to take it 11-6.

In the deciding fifth game, Kim won 11-5, completing a 3-2 win and advancing to the last 16.

On the men's side, China's Xiang Peng saw his hopes of a second WTT Champions title dashed as Germany's Patrick Franziska who defeated the World No. 9 in a five-game first-round match.

Xiang, who made a name for himself earlier this season by winning the WTT Champions Incheon - where he had beaten Franziska en route to the title in South Korea - started strong, landing a forehand winner to end a brilliant rally.

He took the first game 12-10 with a forehand to the same spot.

Franziska dominated the second game 11-3, but the 22-year-old Xiang responded by winning the third game 11-5.

The German avenged his Incheon loss in Incheon at last month's WTT Champions Macao, and he won the fourth game 11-8.

Franziska, 33, then won the fifth game 11-8 to complete a 3-2 victory. He will next face Japan's Sora Matsushima.