China's Li Na fell at the first hurdle at the WTA Kremlin Cup, going down 6-4 6-2 against home favourite Anna Chakvetadze.
Home seeds Kirilenko and Kleybanova reach round two
China's Li Na fell at the first hurdle at the WTA Kremlin Cup, going down 6-4 6-2 against home favourite Anna Chakvetadze.
Russian Chakvetadze thrilled the crowd in Moscow - her home city - with a straight sets triumph over the third seed in just one hour and 19 minutes.
It is the world number 68's third victory in five meetings between the pair, while the result also dashes Li's slim chances of qualifying for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Doha.
"I was not favourite today and had nothing to lose," Chakvetadze, who won the tournament back in 2006, said afterwards.
"And it makes me even more happy and proud that I managed to win in front of my supporters today."
Home success
There was further home success in the opening round with Elena Vesnina knocking out fifth-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4 2-6 6-2.
"It was a very difficult match and I'm really glad I managed to win today," Vesnina said. "Flavia (Pennetta) is a top-class player. "It's always very interesting to play aginst her and of course very pleasant to win."
Russians Maria Kirilenko and Alisa Kleybanova, seeded sixth and seventh respectively, also progressed - albeit in contrasting circumstances.
Kirilenko thrashed Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania 6-2 6-2 but Kleybanova had to come out on top in a final-set tie-break against Czech player Lucie Safarova to record a 6-2 6-7 (4-7) 7-6(7-1) triumph.
Vera Dushevina of Russia made it through to round two thanks to a 7-5 6-0 result in an all-Russian battle with Ekaterina Makarova.
Gisela Dulko tumbled out 6-3 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-5) against Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan, while Italian Sara Errani beat Olga Savchuk 6-3 6-4.
