Jelena Jankovic overcame a determined challenge from Yaroslava Shvedova before taking her place in the second round of the Kremlin Cup.

Former world number one Jankovic lost the second set before her class shone through in the third as she claimed a 6-4 5-7 6-1 first-round victory.

Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak's progress was easier, as Italy's Sara Errani was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury after losing the first set 6-1.

Vera Dushevina was a 3-6 6-2 6-1 winner over qualifier Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan, while Alisa Kleybanova, her fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova and Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova were also first-round winners.

Sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia was a 6-4 6-3 winner over in the opening Austria's Daniel Koellerer in the men's event.

Fabrice Santoro, the French seventh seed, came from a set down before clinching a 4-6 6-2 6-2 win over Russian wildcard Andrey Kuznetsov.

Argentina's Martin Vassallo Arguello, the eighth seed, was defeated 7-5 6-3 by Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev.

Also reaching the second round were Wayne Odesnik, qualifiers Sergiy Stakhovsky and Mikhail Kukushkin, and Christophe Rochus of Belgium.