World number one Fan Zhendong will face Iran's Amir Hossein Hodaei in his first men's singles match in Houston ©Getty Images

Iranian Amir Hossein Hodaei set up a round-of-64 tie against world number one and double Tokyo 2020 medallist Fan Zhendong on the first day of men's singles competition at the World Table Tennis Championships in Houston.

Hodaei edged a thrilling seven-game contest with Belarus' Pavel Platonov to progress from his round-of-128 opener at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The world number 165 took the lead three times against a player ranked 36 places higher by the International Table Tennis Federation, but Hodaei held his nerve to clinch the final game and go through.

He will face China's Fan in the next round, with the Tokyo 2020 men's singles runner-up and team gold medallist bidding for his first singles triumph at the World Championships, having previously earned a bronze and a silver and secured four titles in doubles and team events.

On the other end of the draw, Polish world number 64 Jakub Dyjas is to meet Japanese second seed Tomokazu Harimoto in the next round following a 7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-0, 7-11, 11-6 victory over Croatian world number 96 Frane Kojic.

Portugal's world number 77 Joao Monteiro won a seven-game battle against Puerto Rican world number 93 Brian Afanador 10-12, 11-7, 15-13, 11-3, 8-11, 12-14, 11-8; and is now to meet Brazilian third seed Hugo Calderano.

Chinese Taipei's fourth seed Lin Yun-Ju's round-of-64 opponent is to be Swedish 42nd seed Jon Persson who defeated Senegal's Ibrahima Diaw 11-9, 11-6, 11-4, 10-12, 10-12, 11-2.

Japan's third seed Mima Ito will play Zauresh Akasheva of Kazakhstan in her women's singles tournament opener ©Getty Images
Japan's third seed Mima Ito will play Zauresh Akasheva of Kazakhstan in her women's singles tournament opener ©Getty Images

In the women's singles, Kazakhstan's Zauresh Akasheva will face the Japanese third seed Mima Ito in the round of 64 after she clinched a comfortable 4-1 victory against Puerto Rico's Daniely Rios.

Ito earned three medals at this year's Olympic Games - an individual bronze, team silver and mixed doubles gold.

Singapore's 61st seed Lin Ye is to face top seed Chen Meng from China in the next round, following a dramatic 9-11, 10-12, 11-6, 11-9, 11-7, 6-11, 11-5 win over Thailand's Orawan Paranang.

Second seed Sun Yingsha of China takes on Hong Kong's world number 113 Ng Wing Nam who defeated Brazilian Caroline Kumahara 11-5, 9-11, 11-3, 13-11, 11-10.

Chinese fourth seed Wang Manyu is to face world number 63 Choi Hyo-joo of South Korea, who defeated Sutirtha Mukherjee of India 8-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-0, 11-4.

The top eight seeds in both singles competitions all received byes to tomorrow's second round.