In the women's draw, world number 24 Sobhy equalled her best ever finish at the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour Platinum event.

The 25-year-old got the better of Australian wildcard Sarah Cardwell, winning 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 in just 19 minutes to set up a second-round encounter with Belgian Tinne Gilis.

"It’s pretty important, but just to play well is more important, and to have a good opponent and to have fans is also very important," said Sobhy.

"I am happy that I won in three, and I am happy that I accomplished all those other things, so I am pleased with how it went."

The day's biggest upset saw England's world number 67 Julianne Courtice come back from a game down to beat Welsh world number 18 Emily Whitlock 9-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-1.

Courtice was dominant after dropping the opener and was then aided by Whitlock suffering an injury in the fourth game.

"Unfortunately, she had a fall and I hope that she feels better and gets recovery for it," said Courtice.

"It is never nice to win a match like that, but I am also happy to get through."

Courtice will play world number one and defending champion Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in the second round as she received a bye.

In the men's event, United States' number two Harrity progressed after his opponent, India's Ramit Tandon, was forced to retire due to injury leaving Harrity to play Englishman Declan James next.

Harrity's compatriot Shahjahan Khan fell to Hong Kong's Tsz Fung Yip in a thrilling five-game battle.

World number 30 Khan was outplayed in the first two games but showed impressive resilience to stay in the match.

Fung Yip recovered in the decider, however, to seal a 12-10, 11-3, 8-11, 12-14, 11-4 triumph setting up a second-round tie with Mexico's Cesar Salazar.

Elsewhere, former world number one James Willstrop of England beat Qatar’s Abdulla Mohd Al Tamimi 11-9, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10 and he will take on second seed Paul Coll of New Zealand in a hotly anticipated second-round clash.