Moscow, Russia -- (Sports Network) - Fifth-seeded Russian favorite Svetlana Kuznetsova was among the first-round winners, while Wimbledon champion Venus Williams came up a loser Tuesday at the $1.34 million Kremlin Cup.

Kuznetsova handled Chinese Na Li 6-4, 7-5, while a sixth-seeded former world No. 1 Williams was ousted by Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 on the indoor carpet at Olympic Stadium.

Seventh-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva avoided an upset by beating countrywoman Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4.

In other opening-round action, Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova humbled Italian qualifier Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-2; Slovenian qualifier Katarina Srebotnik subdued Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-2, 6-1; Italian qualifier Sara Errani erased Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; and Ekaterina Makarova held off fellow Russian wild card Elena Vesnina 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-1).

On Wednesday, second-round matches will come for second-seeded Russian Dinara Safina, third-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva, fourth-seeded Serbian Ana Ivanovic and Kuznetsova. The French Open and Olympic runner-up Safina will face fellow former world No. 1 and 2003 Moscow finalist Amelie Mauresmo, while the Olympic gold medalist Dementieva will battle Srebotnik, the French Open champion and former top-ranked Ivanovic will tangle with Slovak Dominika Cibulkova, and Kuznetsova will be opposed by Errani. The reigning Moscow titlist Dementieva defeated Serena Williams in last year's marquee finale here.

This week's top seed is top-ranked Serb Jelena Jankovic, who is fresh off her back-to-back titles in Beijing and Stuttgart, respectively.

The 2008 Moscow titlist will earn $196,900.