Mikhail Youzhny beat Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6:4, 3:6, 6:3 in his opening match of the ATP tournament on Wednesday, while Maria Kirilenko dispatched Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko 6:4, 0:6, 6:4 in the women's event.
But all eyes were on Russia's rising star, 17-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, semifinalist in the recent prestigious Indian Wells tournament, who saved three match points against France's Aravane Rezai to win in three sets 4:6, 7:5, 6:3.
Wild card entry Anastasia Pivovarova clinched victory in straight sets over America's Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who is some 59 places higher than the young 18-year-old Muscovite in the world rankings.
Three Russians are scheduled to see action on Thursday, with Alla Kudryavtseva taking on Mariana Duque Marino from Colombia, Ekaterina Makarova lined up to play Yung-Jan Chan from Taipei in the women's tournament, and Teimuraz Gabashvili facing Italy's Simone Bolelli in the men's.
