(CNN) -- Defending champion Jelena Jankovic overcame a determined challenge from Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan before taking her place in the second round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
Jankovic will next face Lucie Safarova after struggling through to the Kremlin Cup second round.
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 win.
Serb Jankovic, who is seeded two, will next face Czech Lucie Safarova.
In other matches, Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak progressed when 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.
Meanwhile, there was a shock in the WTA Luxembourg Open when seventh seed Kateryna Bondarenko of Ukraine was crushed 6-0 6-2 by Italian Roberta Vinci.
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