Easy start for Santoro

Fabrice Santoro was the only seed in action on day one

Sixth seed Fabrice Santoro has made comfortable progress into the second round of the Kremlin Cup with a 6-2 6-1 victory over Spain's Galo Blanco.

Santoro was the only seed in action on the opening day in Moscow, and the world number 22 needed just 56 minutes to see off a player ranked 26 places lower.

"I didn't have any loss of concentration as I kept my focus for the whole match," said the Frenchman.

"I also like the surface here, because it's a bit slower than last year, so it gives those who like to play from the baseline a better chance."

Jiri Novak thrashed fellow Czech Bohdan Ulihrach

Santoro will take on either Swiss Marc Rosset or Nenad Zimonjic of Yugoslavia in the second round.

World number 31 Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia overcame former Wimbledon semi-finalist Vladimir Voltchkov - a wild card in Moscow - 6-4 7-5.

Czech Jiri Novak thrashed compatriot Bohdan Ulihrach 6-1 6-0, while Russian wild card Andrei Stoliarov beat another Czech, Michal Tabara, 7-5, 6-3.

Russians dominate draw

The women's singles saw nine Russians entered in the main draw, with crowd favourite Anna Kournikova due to play compatriot Galina Fokina on Tuesday.

Wildcard Anastasia Myskina gave the Russians a good start by upsetting world number 33 Magui Serna of Spain 6-2 6-2.

It was not such a good day for teenager Nadejda Petrova, who went down 6-4 6-2 to Italy's Francesca Schiavone.

Daja Bedanova had little trouble beating Spain's Cristina Torrens Valero 6-0 6-3 and the 18-year-old Czech faces number two seed Amelie Mauresmo of France next.