MOSCOW, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Seventh-seeded Dinara Safina was ousted in straight sets Tuesday during first-round play of the $1.34 million Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow.
Safina was defeated 6-1, 6-2 by fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze in second-day action of the tournament. Russian Elena Vesnina defeated China's Na Li 6-2, 1-6, 7-6 (13-11) in another early match to earn a second-round match with the world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo from France.
Other winners Tuesday included Russia's Ekaterina Bychkova, who stopped fellow Russian qualifier Anastassia Rodionova 6-3, 6-4; Italian Francesca Schiavone, who beat Russia Maria Kirilenko 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3); and Czech qualifier Iveta Benesova, who eliminated Italy's Mara Santangelo 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Many seeded players, including No. 2 Maria Sharapova and third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, open Kremlin Cup play Wednesday.
The tournament continues through the week, with the winner taking home $196,900.
