Dokic fails to reverse slide

Kremlin Cup

Latest results

Jelena Dokic took her season win-loss record to 22-27 after defeat to Alexandra Stevenson in the first round.

The 20-year-old, who is now longer travelling with her controversial former coach and father Damir, is enduring a disappointing run of form which has seen her drop to a world ranking of 26.

Stevenson, who has failed to live up to the promise she showed in 1999 when she reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon. brushed aside Dokic 6-3 6-1.

Number eight seed Meghann Shaughnessy of America was also stunned as she was seen off in straight sets 7-5 6-3 by Eleni Daniilidou of Greece.

Dinara Safina, sister of former US Open champion Marat Safin, gave the home crowd something to cheer with a hard-fought 6-4 3-6 7-5 win over fifth seed Magdalena Maleeva.

And compatriot Elena Bovina joined her in the second round with a 6-4 6-2 win over Switzerland's Patty Schnyder.

But Italy's Francesca Schiavone bounced back to end the hopes of another Russian, Lina Krasnoroutskaya, 2-6 6-0 6-4.

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Japan Open

Sharapova was too strong for her Korean opponent

Maria Sharapova opened her Japan Open challenge with a clinical 6-2 6-0 win over South Korea's Jin-He Kim.

The 16-year-old, seeded five, made light of the blustery conditions, blasting baseline winners to all parts of the court in the 47-minute encounter.

"I was surprised when I came out of the hotel and saw the wind blowing so hard," said Sharapova.

"But I played a really solid game. It was a really quick match."

Sharapova, who came to Tokyo a year ago as a wild card entrant, made her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open in Melbourne in January and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.

She reached the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Open two weeks ago to move up to a career high 47 in the world rankings.

The 2002 Australian Open junior finalist hopes to improve her ranking during the remaining part of the season despite WTA rules prohibiting players aged 16 from playing more than 10 tournaments a year.

"I think that I'm actually getting a little bit more experience as the year has gone on. I played some really great opponents and I've learned a lot more since last year," said Sharapova.

She will meet Japan's Akiko Morigami, who beat Russia's Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-2, in the second round.

Another future prospect, 18-year-old Ashley Harkleroad, crushed Japanese wild card Maika Ozaki 6-0 6-0.

Sixth seed Harkleroad will now face Yan Zi of China, who beat Japan's Miho Saeki 6-2 6-4.