Stanford, California, Jul 26 : Russia's Maria Kirilenko beat sixth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 6-2, 6-3, Tuesday in the first-round of the Bank of the West Classic.
Seventh-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, playing her first match with a new coach and fitness trainer, was knocked off by Japan's Ayumi Morita, 6-3, 7-5; Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova beat newcomer Rina Fujiwara of Japan, 6-0, 6-2; Germany's Sabine Lisicki defeated Romania's Simona Halep, 6-1, 6-2; qualifier Marina Erakovic of New Zealand beat Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson, 6-2, 6-1; and Poland's Urszula Radwanska topped Ukraine's Olga Savchuk, 6-2, 6-4, in a matchup of qualifiers.
The 25th-ranked Kirilenko, who reached the quarterfinal of this event last year, snapped a 13-match losing streak against the top 20 player with her victory. She'll play the winner of a later match between Serena Williams and Anastasia Rodionova.
Kirilenko is a five-time WTA Tour singles champion and is looking for her first title since 2008.
Goerges, ranked 20th, won her first Premier WTA singles title at Stuttgart earlier this year.
The 50th-ranked Morita had lost in the first round in her three previous appearances at Stanford, each time to the eventual champion. She'll meet Urszula Radwanska in the second round.
Ivanovic, a former world No. 1, began working with coach Nigel Sears right after Wimbledon. She also returned to fitness trainer Scott Byrnes, with whom she worked with between July 2006 and July 2009. AP
