Romania's Edina Gallovits produced a stirring comeback to beat Russian Maria Kirilenko 3-6 7-5 7-5 in Indian Wells, where Maria Sharapova made her long-awaited comeback to tennis in a thrilling doubles match.
While most of the big names are still waiting to start their singles campaign, all eyes were on the doubles as Sharapova returned to the court for the first time in seven months.
The 24-year-old Russian has been out of action since having shoulder surgery on a torn rotator cuff, but she was back in action on Thursday.
The former world number one partnered compatriot Elena Vesnina, but the duo were beaten by Ekaterina Makarova and Tatiana Poutchek after a thrilling final set went the distance in a 6-2 4-6 10-7 scoreline.
"It feels pretty good, it's pretty amazing," said Sharapova. "I came here and just wanted to test it out.
"I started training a couple of months ago and I thought I'd test it out in a match situation and play in front of a crowd, and it was exciting.
"I think the hump I've got to get through right now is to put two weeks of playing two, three sets every single day, for two weeks and feeling great, 100 percent.
"Right now I am able to do maybe three days, four days and then I have to take it easy on the fifth.
"Obviously that's not the way to go about a tournament in singles, so that's what I am working up to right now and whenever that comes, that's when I'll be playing singles."
In the singles tournament, Indian Sania Mirza came from behind to beat Mariya Koryttseva 2-6 6-3 6-2, while Australian Sam Stosur cruised past Italy's Francesca Schiavone 6-1 6-4.
Second-seed Jelena Jankovic, who had a bye, will face 17-year-old Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova after she beat Poland's Marta Domachowska 6-1 6-3.