Ashleigh Barty avoided joining the early exodus of seeds and kept her grip on the world No.1 position – for now – after a tough three-set win at the Wuhan Open.

Drawn against former world No.4 Caroline Garcia, it proved to be a tricky second round match-up for the Queenslander who ultimately prevailed 4-6 6-4 6-1 in two hours and 11 minutes.

The win keeps world No.2 Karolina Pliskova at bay for the time being, the Czech still capable of supplanting Barty in the top spot should things go her way in China.

A semi-finalist in Wuhan last year, Barty is defending more points than Pliskova who lost in the opening round in 2018.

If the pair were to meet in the final, then the winner will own the No.1 ranking after Wuhan.

That prospect looked a long way away after Barty lost the opening set and her serve three times against Garcia.

But she steadied in the second and ultimately enjoyed a run of nine straight service holds while breaking the Frenchwoman a handful of times to run away with the match.

Barty next plays American Sofia Kenin who downed the French Open winner in their last clash at the Canadian Masters in August.

Kenin, Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina and Kiki Bertens were among the other early winners on Tuesday.

Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Anastasija Sevastova were among the seeds to fall on Monday.