Auckland's ASB Classics first major signing, the Russian Elena Vesnina, has been beaten in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
The sixth-seeded Vesnina was upset by fellow Russian Evgeniya Rodina in three sets.
Vesnina wasn't the only player to suffer from the end of season blues with third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, 4th seed Flavia Pennetta and fifth seed Nadia Petrova also beaten today.
Vesnina will play in Auckland in early January with organisers hoping to name further top names in the next week.
