Pavlyuchenkova drops Kremlin Cup opener

MOSCOW, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Fourth-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was ousted in opening-round play Monday at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow.

Pavlyuchenkova, playing in her home town, was defeated by Dominika Cibulkova 7-5 (7-5), 2-6, 6-0. Cibulkova lost five of the 10 break-point situations she faced but dropped only two points on serve and seven points overall in the third set.

No. 8-seeded Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the only other seeded player on the schedule, advanced with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 win over Alla Kudryavtseva. Martinez Sanchez piled up eight service breaks in the win.

Monday's other results had sisters Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko advancing. Alona topped Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-1 and Kateryna beat Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-7 (7-9), 6-1.

Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka are the top seeds for the Kremlin Cup and received first-round byes. The $1 million tournament has a first-place prize of more than $157,000.