Neither player was exceptionally sharp and both had to overcome serving problems. Chakvetadze backed herself into having to defend 22 break points in the match. While she was able to save 15 of them, it wasn't enough to hold off Kanepi, who won, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Seventh-seeded Daniela Hantuchova also fell in first-round play Tuesday, with Francesca Schiavone taking the match 6-1, 7-5.

Agnieszka Radwanska, seeded sixth, was the only other seeded player on the card Tuesday. She made short work of Aiko Nakamura, taking the match, 6-1, 6-4. She next faces Marion Bartoli who was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Maria Kirilenko in her first-round match.

Dominika Cibulkova rebounded from being shutout in the first set to take a 0-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8) decision from Amelie Mauresmo.

Also Tuesday, Ayumi Moritz topped Agnes Szavay, 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-4; Flavia Pennetta stopped Shahar Peer, 6-4, 6-4 and Alize Cornet survived a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 match with Aleksandra Wozniak.

World No. 2 Jelena Jankovic is the top seed of a field that features six of the Top 10 women's players in the world.

The Pan Pacific Open champion will earn $196,900.