The 23-year-old Spaniard triumphed 21-17, 21-10 at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium and will now go onto face home favourite Rituparna Das in round two tomorrow.

"I’m happy to win the first match - it was important to play well in the beginning if I hope to do well in the tournament," top seed Marin said. 

"I took some time to adjust - you have to control the shuttle, you have to adjust to the wind in the hall, and I was on the fast side in the first game. 

"I was prepared for her - I always see videos of my opponents. 

"I always have a strategy for every opponent."

Das overcame Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Mei Hui after coming from behind to claim a 19-21, 21-15, 21-19 win.

There was also success today in the women’s singles draw for second-seeded South Korean Sung Ji Hyun, a 21-11, 21-13 victor at the expense of India’s Sri Krishna Priya Kudaravalli, and third seed Pusarla Sindhu, who won an all-Indian clash against Arundhati Pantawane 21-17, 21-6.

Defending champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, meanwhile, defeated China's Gao Fangjie 21-15, 21-19. 

One of the biggest shocks of the day came in the men’s singles draw as fourth seed Son Wan Ho of South Korea lost to unseeded Indian Sameer Verma 17-21, 10-21.

Fifth seed Tian Houwei of China had no such problems, beating Hong Kong’s Wei Nan 21-12, 21-19.

Sixth seed Ng Ka Long Angus of Hong Kong was handed a walkover against England’s Rajiv Ouseph, while seventh seed Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei defeated Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-18, 21-8.

Denmark's Viktor Axelsen, who has lost two consecutive finals at the tournament, defeated India's Ajay Jayaram 23-21, 21-17.

"It means a lot to make two finals; I like being on court here," Axelsen said.

"I hope I can go one step further this time."

Next up for the Dane is India's Srikanth Kidambi, who he lost to in the 2015 final.

Kidambi saw off China's Zhao Junpeng, winning 21-19, 21-16.