Kuznetsova advances in Moscow

Russian favorite Svetlana Kuznetsova was an easy opening-round winner Monday at the Kremlin Cup tennis event.

The fifth-seeded two-time Grand Slam champion was handling Klara Koukalova 6-1 after one set when the Czech veteran retired at Olympic Stadium.

Also on Day 1, Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova whipped Montenegro's Danka Kovinic 6-2, 6-2.

This week's top seed is Australian Open runner-up and 2011 Moscow titlist Dominika Cibulkova. French Open runner-up Simona Halep, who is not defending her title this year, beat Aussie Samantha Stosur in last year's Moscow finale.

The 2014 Moscow champ will claim $120,000.

[SportsNetwork.com]