The 23-year-old, winner of the women’s singles title at the 2014 World Tour Grand Finals, was expected to cruise part Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu in the first round of the main draw.

She was surprised in opening game of the contest, which Chen claimed 11-9, but fought back to level the match by winning the second 11-8.

Having fallen behind again, Ishikawa triumphed in the next two games to move to the brink of victory, only to be forced into a deciding game by her resilient opponent.

Chen then held her nerve to seal an 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 8-11, 11-5, 11-8 win and celebrate her second success against the Japanese star.

“I took the decision that I would stay close to the table and try to play faster in order to give her less time to play”, said Chen.

“In the past when I have played Kasumi Ishikawa I have become excited and lost.

“I had played her ten times before today and I had won only twice.”

Yu Mengyu eliminated Japan’s Miu Hirano, 15th seed, in another high profile upset with the player from Singapore coming out on top 11-8, 11-9, 10-12, 2-11, 11-6, 11-3.

There was no problem for the top seed Liu Shiwen, as the Chinese star clinched a straightforward 11-4, 11-8, 11-5, 11-7 victory over Turkey’s Hu Melek.

Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, continuing his comeback after a back injury ruled him out of the World Team Championships, was among the victors in the men’s draw.

The 27-year-old claimed a 14-12, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 11-1 victory over Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira to seal his place in the last 16.

World number one Ma Long responded from his defeat in the Kuwait Open final, the Chinese player sealing a 11-5,11-3,7-11,11-3,11-2 win over Sweden’s Par Gerell.

Competition is scheduled to continue tomorrow, with the finals due to take place on Sunday (March 27).