Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1 March 2017 | AAP

Australia’s Ash Barty has received a boost at the Malaysian Open with world No.201 Miyu Kato of Japan upsetting second-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 2-6 6-1 6-3.

Barty will now face the 22-year-old Kato in the second round after a day of upsets left China’s Qiang Wang as the only seed in the bottom half of the draw.

The tournament is the first the 20-year-old has played in since she reached the third round of the Australian Open.

Also sent packing on the second day of action was third-seeded Frenchwoman Carolina Garcia, who was beaten 7-5 6-2 by Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya.

Things were a little different in the top half of the draw as world No.10 and top seed Elina Svitolina cruised through her first round match.

The Ukrainian was untroubled as she brushed aside Korean qualifier Su Jeong Jang 6-2 6-3, while fourth-seeded Shuai Peng also advanced in straight sets.