Russia’s tennis queens failed to shine on the opening day of the WTA World Championships, with both Vera Zvonareva and Maria Sharapova losing their matches in straight sets.
Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova defeated sixth-seed Zvonareva 6-2, 6-4. Kvitova was making her first appearance at the season-ending tournament in Istanbul for the top eight players.
It was tied four-all in the second, after Kvitova wasted a 4-1 lead, before she broke her opponent again to wrap up the win.
The victory gave the Czech player an early lead in the Red Group, which also includes top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the other match.
Meanwhile, Russia’s other representative in Turkey, Sharapova, lost to US Open champion Samantha Stosur 6-1, 7-5. The White Group also includes Belarus star Victoria Azarenka and China’s Li Na.