Beatriz Corrales gave the host nation a boost in the women's draw at the Badminton World Federation Spain Masters ©Getty Images

Beatriz Corrales gave the host nation a boost in the women's draw at the Badminton World Federation Spain Masters after local hero Carolina Marin pulled out.

Marin, the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist who won her third world title this month, was seeded first at the Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron in Barcelona.

Her departure has robbed the draw of its big name but Corrales, seeded eighth, gave the home crowd something to cheer by winning her first round match at the Super 300 World Tour event.

She knocked out Germany's Luise Heim 21-13, 21-15.

Elsewhere, Japan's second seed Sayaka Takahashi knocked out Julie Dawall Jakobsen of Denmark 21-14, 21-17.

Pablo Abián lost in round one of his home tournament ©Getty Images
Pablo Abián lost in round one of his home tournament ©Getty Images

Denmark's third seed Mia Blichfeldt came through a tough three-setter against Russia's Natalia Perminova, 19-21, 21-7, 21-15, but Thailand's fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong lost 21-14, 23-21 to Japan's Minatsu Mitani.

In the men's draw there was home disappointment as Spain's top ranked player Pablo Abián was sent tumbling out.

The sixth seed was beaten by India's Ajay Jayaram, 15-21, 21-17, 21-8.

Top seed Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand beat Germany's Lars Schänzler 21-17, 21-15 and second seed Rasmus Gemke of Denmark accounted for Hungary's Gergely Krausz, 21-13, 21-12.

Dutch third seed Mark Caljouw was a casualty, however, as he lost to Denmark's Victor Svendsen, 21-13, 21-18. 

The tournament continues tomorrow.