The Egyptian pair, who are second seeds in the men’s and women’s tournaments respectively, won their opening matches in straight games.

Farag secured an 11-8, 11-5, 11-8 win over Mexico’s Leonel Cardenas in the first round of the men’s competition at the Club S Allegria.

The two-time world champion will face further Mexican opposition in the second round, after Cesar Salazar won 5-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-4 against Yahya Elnawasany of Egypt.

Egypt’s Mohamed El Shorbagy, last year’s runner-up, was another of the seeds to advance.

The 2017 champion beat Hungary’s Farkas Balazs 11-8, 11-2, 11-6 to set up a match with Colombia’s Juan Camilo Vargas.

Fifth seed Diego Elias survived a scare when he beat England’s Patrick Rooney in five games, with the Peruvian winning 11-4, 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2.

Egyptian seventh seed Marwan El Shorbagy advanced to the second round after his opponent Iker Pajares Bernabeu of Spain was forced to withdraw three points into their match.

In the women’s event, El Sherbini began her pursuit of a sixth title in the past seven World Championships in fine fashion.

The Egyptian star eased past Spain’s Cristina Gomez 11-4, 11-5, 11-4 to take her place in the second round.

She will now play compatriot Kenzy Ayman, who beat England’s Jasmine Hutton 12-10, 12-10, 12-10.

Third seed Hania El Hammamy won an all-Egyptian first round match 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 against Sana Ibrahim.

England’s Sarah-Jane Perry and Georgina Kennedy also earned victories.

Sixth seed Perry won 11-4, 11-8, 6-11, 11-4 against Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk, while ninth seeded Kennedy was an 11-2, 11-0, 11-4 winner over the Netherlands’ Milou van der Heijden.