Four the Top 6 seeds were in action Tuesday in Beijing, and all four won in straight sets. Five-time champion Novak Djokovic improved his record at the event to 25-0 after pounding Simone Bolelli 6-1, 6-1.

“I thought I played on a very high level considering it’s my first official match after the US Open,” said Djokovic. “Obviously in the first matches you still don’t know how you’re going to start out. It takes time for you to adjust to the conditions and so forth.

“I came out with a great intensity, played some of my best tennis on this court, and managed to win against a player that I thought was playing well.”

Djokovic also teamed with brother Djordje to win their doubles opener.

Rafael Nadal also took the court, but struggled a bit with a 6-4, 6-4 win over local wildcard Di Wu. Nadal was broken in the second and had to further breakpoints to hold on for the win.

“(It) looked like the match was under control with 6-4, 1-0, but then the situation changed,” said Nadal. “I think I played little bit too much far away from the baseline. But is true the last three games of the match I was playing better. I hit some good forehands down the line and that’s why I finished the match well and with the victory.

Nadal now meets Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

“(I’m) practising well, the level of tennis going to be there sooner or later,” Nadal said. “I am working a lot to make that happen. I think I’m closer to that.

“I know it is obvious that I need results to confirm that, but we are almost at the end of this season and I have time to keep playing the last tournaments of the year with the chance to practise the things that I need to do for next year.”

David Ferrer and John Isner also won.

In the women’s event, Ana Ivanovic toppled Venus Williams 7-6, 6-2.

“I was very pleased overall, not only with the forehand but just with my game,” Ivanovic said. “I’ve been working really, really hard. Since Wimbledon, when I put the team in place, there have been some little changes here and there, but I feel like we’ve been working really hard.

“I knew it was coming, but it was just a matter of time putting it all together. And the last few days I’ve been doing it really well on the practice courts. I’m happy to transfer it into today’s match.

“It was an important match for me – it was a good one to win.”

Seeds Flavia Pennetta, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Andrea Petkovic were also winners.

On tap Wednesday in Beijing, Nadal returns to face Pospisil, Kerber meets Wozniacki and Radwanska clashes with Keys.

In Tokyo, Stan Wawrinka opened up with a win over Radek Stepanek. No. 4 seed Richard Gasquet was bounced by Roberto Bautista Agut and Grigor Dimitrov continued his slump losing to Benoit Paire.

Kei Nishikori (v Querrey) and Wawrinka (v Ito) both are back tomorrow.

BEIJING WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
NATIONAL TENNIS STADIUM start 12:30 pm
ATP – [WC] Y. Lu (TPE) vs V. Troicki (SRB)

Not Before 2:30 pm
WTA – [13] A. Petkovic (GER) vs S. Errani (ITA)
WTA – [4] A. Radwanska (POL) vs [14] M. Keys (USA)

Not Before 7:30 pm
WTA – [10] A. Kerber (GER) vs [8] C. Wozniacki (DEN)

Not Before 9:00 pm
ATP – V. Pospisil (CAN) vs [3] R. Nadal (ESP)

LOTUS COURT start 12:30 pm
WTA – [Q] I. Falconi (USA) vs [5] G. Muguruza (ESP)

Not Before 2:30 pm
ATP – P. Cuevas (URU) vs [2] T. Berdych (CZE)
ATP – [4] D. Ferrer (ESP) vs L. Rosol (CZE)

Not Before 6:30 pm
WTA – [7] C. Suárez Navarro (ESP) vs [12] T. Bacsinszky (SUI)