World number one Rafael Nadal saved two match points on his way to beating France’s Lucas Pouille in the first round of the China Open today ©Getty Images

World number one Rafael Nadal saved two match points on his way to beating France's Lucas Pouille in the first round of the China Open today.

Nadal, who was making his first appearance since winning the US Open final last month, came from a set down to triumph 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 at the Olympic Green Tennis Center in Beijing.

The 31-year-old Spaniard was 4-6 behind in the second set tie-break before winning four successive points.

He then converted his only break point of the match in 11th game of the final set before successfully serving out the match. 

"I am very, very happy to be through," Nadal, a 16-time Grand Slam champion, was reported as saying by BBC Sport.

"He played well, I think, very aggressive.

"He's serving well.

"For me it was a little bit difficult at the beginning, then I started to play better.

"But still, I didn't have the control of the match for almost all the time."

Awaiting the 2005 champion in the next round is Russia’s Karen Khachanov, who defeated home favourite Di Wu 6-4, 6-2.

Maria Sharapova is through to the third round of the women's draw ©Getty Images
Maria Sharapova is through to the third round of the women's draw ©Getty Images

Elsewhere in Beijing, third seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Džumhur 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios beat Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-2, while Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro is also through after a 7-6, 6-4 win over Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas.

There were also victories for the United States' John Isner, who defeated Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri 6-2, 6-3, and Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych, who overcame American Jared Donaldson 6-3, 0-6, 6-2.

In today's women's action, Russia’s Maria Sharapova beat compatriot Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.

It sets up a third-round clash with Romania’s Simona Halep, who was leading Slovakia’s Magdaléna Rybáriková 6-2, 2-1 when her opponent retired ill.

Halep will be looking to avenge her first-round loss to Sharapova at the US Open as the Russian made a triumphant Grand Slam return after a 15-month doping ban.

Among the other players through to round three is Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitová thanks to a 6-4, 6-4 win over American Varvara Lepchenko.

World number four Karolína Plíšková progressed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Germany’s Andrea Petkovic, while US Open semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe retired from her match against Australia’s Daria Gavrilova with a spine injury.

Vandeweghe was trailing 3-6, 0-2 when she pulled out.