In the men's singles draw, third seed and two-time champion Chen Long was tested by Russia’s Vladimir Malkov, but the Chinese star had more than enough and progressed 21-14, 21-17 in the Swiss city. 

Top seed and defending champion Kento Momota had little trouble from Vietnam’s Pham Cao Cuong, the Japanese player winning 21-9, 21-10.

Second seed Chou Tien-chen was given a tougher workout by Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, who took the Chinese Taipei player to three sets.

Chou eventually battled his way into round two 21-15, 17-21, 21-17.

Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie, ranked fourth, beat England's Rajiv Ouseph 21-15, 21-19, after which Ouseph announced his retirement from international competition. 

"I’ve been thinking about it for a while, so I’ve had a chance to come to terms that this is my last tournament," the 32-year-old Ouseph, European champion in 2017 and former world number 10, said.

"It was a combination of things. I got a new family, that was a part of it.

"My body’s starting to let me know a little bit, in terms of training and all that.

"While I was playing the game I was concentrating on that, but after I finished it was a bit difficult."

Christie wished his defeated opponent well, and said: "I hope he can have a good life after his badminton career.

"He had a good style and it was never easy to play him."

The women's singles also commenced today, with the unseeded players competing for the right to face one of the top 16 in the second round.

Top seed Akane Yamaguchi of Japan is scheduled to play 20-year-old Singaporean Yeo Jia Min in her opening game.