Defending champion Novak Djokovic breezed into the second round of the China Open on Tuesday with an emphatic defeat of Simone Bolelli.

The world number one, back in action for the first time since winning the US Open last month, needed just an hour and 11 minutes to see off the Italian qualifier 6-1 6-1.

Top seed Djokovic has won this tournament three times in succession and five times in the last six years and set about trying to continue his dominance in Beijing with a commanding display.

Djokovic, eyeing his eighth title of another stellar year, saved five break points and won five himself to set up a second-round encounter with Chinese qualifier Zhang Ze.

The Serb has now won 25 consecutive matches at the China Open after producing 22 winners and making only 14 unforced errors to oust Bolelli.

Rafael Nadal is also through to the second round, but the Spaniard did not have things all his own way against wildcard Wu Di.

The third seed from Spain was broken four times, but took advantage of Wu's vulnerability on serve to break on six occasions and avoid a new low in what has been a difficult year.

Nadal, who won the China Open in 2005 and is aiming to secure a place in the ATP World Tour Finals, will face Vasek Pospisil in the second round.

David Ferrer, seeded four, was another first-round winner on Tuesday as he beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-4 6-3.

John Millman reached the second round at the expense of Tommy Robredo, the Australian qualifier battling back with great effect to win 4-6 6-1 6-0.

Pospisil got the better of Victor Estrella Burgos in three sets, while Lu Yen-Hsun also advanced.