The world number one defeated Gerassimenko in last year's round-of-16 and he repeated his success with an 8-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-5, 10-12, 12-10 win at the Budapest Olympic Hall.

Next up for Fan is a meeting with Chinese Taipei's Chuang Chih-Yuan, who benefited from the disqualification of China's Zhou Yu to progress.

Among the other players advancing today was second-seeded Chinese Xu Xin, who opened with an 11-5, 11-3, 7-11, 11-5, 11-13, 13-15, 11-5 victory over Germany's Benedikt Duda.

"This was my first day competing and my third match of the day in a row," Xu, who also begun his men's doubles and mixed doubles campaigns, said.

"I was trying my best all the way through."

Compatriot Lin Gaoyuan, the third seed, overcame fellow Chinese Zhao Zihao 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7.

In the women's singles event, reigning champion Wang Manyu's match against Chen Ke was one of three eye-catching all-Chinese contests as she prevailed 11-7, 11-7, 12-10, 11-4.

Top seed Zhu Yuling beat He Zhuojia, the 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals runner-up, 11-6, 11-6, 11-2, 13-11, while 2012 champion Liu Shiwen defeated Zhang Rui 11-6, 12-10, 11-4, 11-9.

Another Chinese player making headway was second seed Chen Meng, the 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals winner, with an 11-5, 11-8, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Singapore's Yu Mengyu.

In one of today's stand-out ties, home favourite Georgina Pota lost 12-10, 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12 to Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Manika Batra of India.

Action in Budapest is due to continue tomorrow.