Coco Gauff brushed aside Russia's Kamilla Rakhimova 6-4, 6-0 on Friday to secure a spot in the last 32 as she bids for a repeat China Open crown.
The world number three from the United States will next face Canada's Leylah Fernandez in Beijing, who triumphed decisively over Greece's Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-0.
"I think the mindset is a little bit different just because when you play well at a place, you have a lot of confidence," Gauff said after the match.
"When those tough moments happen, you feel the familiarity of the conditions from the years before that," she said.
The defending Beijing champion powered through a few drawn-out games to take down the 89th-ranked Russian in her first appearance since the US Open.
An energised Gauff broke early in the second set and worked hard to save break points over the frustrated but defiant 24-year-old Rakhimova to close out the match without trouble.
"I expected it to be close," Gauff told reporters.
"She's a great player, and she's had competitive results with top players in the last few tournaments.
"I just found my rhythm and got in the flow."
Also into the next round is fellow American Amanda Anisimova, a US Open finalist, beating Britain's Katie Boulter 6-1, 6-3.
The 24-year-old world number four next plays home favourite Zhang Shuai - who last year in Beijing snapped a more than 600-day winless singles streak as then-world no. 595.