Denmark's Viktor Axelsen is looking to defend his men's singles title at the BWF Barcelona Spain Masters ©Getty Images

Defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark came from behind against Singapore's Loh Kean Yew to secure his place in the second round of the men's singles event at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Barcelona Spain Masters.

The 26-year-old fought hard to claim a 13-21, 21-14, 21-15 win on day two of the BWF World Tour Super 300 event at the Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron.

Next up for Axelsen, the 2017 world champion, is a clash with France's Brice Leverdez, who beat Denmark's Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus 21-10, 16-21, 21-13.

The only seeded player to suffer elimination from the men's singles event was fourth-ranked Wang Tzu-wei after the Taiwanese lost 19-21, 21-16, 16-21 to France's Lucas Corvée.

Spain's Carolina Marín is through to the second round of the women's singles event ©Getty Images
Spain's Carolina Marín is through to the second round of the women's singles event ©Getty Images

In the women's singles competition, home favourite Carolina Marín eased through to the second round.

The Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist defeated Russia's Natalia Perminova 21-11, 21-8 and will now go onto face The Netherlands' Soraya de Visch Eijbergen, who overcame Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu-po 19-21, 21-16, 21-16.

Also progressing today were Thailand's Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Pornpawee Chochuwong, the respective third and sixth seeds, and India's Saina Nehwal, the fifth seed.

Ongbamrungphan beat England's Chloe Birch 21-10, 21-10, while Chochuwong defeated Belgium's Lianne Tan 21-15, 21-11 and Nehwal overcame Germany's Yvonne Li 21-16, 21-14.