Ana Ivanovic was in sublime form in her first-round match in Beijing
Third seed Jelena Jankovic lost the battle of the Serbs as she was sent crashing out of the China Open by compatriot Bojana Jovanovski.
Jankovic, the 2008 US Open runner-up, got off to a flyer, converting four of five break points to take the first set 6-4.
But as her serve deserted her in the second set, Jovanovski took full advantage to comfortably negotiate the second set 6-2. Two breaks of serve was enough in the decider, Jovanovski clambering all over Jankovic's timid second serve to set up a deserved victory.
Thirteenth seed Nadia Petrova was in sparkling form during her 6-3 7-5 win over Alona Bondarenko as she joined Jovanovski in the third round.
In the first round, Ana Ivanovic made it safely through after taking out Marion Bartoli in straight sets.
The unseeded Serb, who has struggled in the past with the mental side of the game, showed no sign of nerves as she sealed a 6-2 6-3 victory in one hour and seven minutes.
Ivanovic's serve was exceptional in the first set as she won 92% of the points on her first serve - and this provided the perfect platform for the 2008 French Open champion to take the opening set after breaking the 11th seed twice.
Bartoli rallied at the start of the second, earning her first break of the match. But Ivanovic was in inspired form and she hit back to book her place in the next round.
Bartoli wasn't the only seed to be sent packing on Monday, sixth seed Agnieszka Radwanska crashed to Germany's Angelique Kerber in three marathon sets.
Poland's Radwanska looked favourite to progress after taking the first set 7-5, only for her opponent to up her level considerably and close out a 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5 win in nearly three hours.
Radwanska's defeat means that neither of last year's finalists are now in the frame for this year's title - with defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova losing to qualifier Roberta Vinci in her first-round match on Sunday.
There were no dramas for Shahar Peer as the 15th seed dismantled home favourite Shengnan Sun, triumphing 6-1 6-2.
Peer converted five of seven break points in a one-sided contest, leaving her well placed to add to her five career titles.
Russia's Dinara Safina, who is still searching for form after returning from a chronic back injury earlier this year, tumbled out of the tournament at the hands of compatriot Vera Zvonareva.
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic