The Williams sisters also progressed, with Madrid champion Serena next facing Russia's Nadia Petrova in the second round on Wednesday.
Next to Russia, western Europe seemed a hotbed of mobility and progress.
Yet next to Russia, bumpkin-land is starting to look attractive.
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With England facing Germany in a friendly next week ahead of crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month, Bruce admits he fears for the future of the national side.
Now it looks like the online giant has settled on its next target: Russia.
Odd though it may seem to outsiders, plenty of them believe the West will attack Russia next.
The issue of media freedom is also expected to figure highly during a visit to Russia next week by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
Blocking sea routes outside Chinese waters is futile as the fossil fuel sources are right next door in Russia and the central Asian countries.
Chrysler is reviewing options to allow it to build Jeeps in Russia next year despite the lack of agreement on a production site with its joint-venture partner.
Both the Russians and Americans say they are hopeful that a bilateral deal can be struck when Mr Bush visits Russia next week, at what might otherwise be a frosty meeting.
Next week, Russia and its peers in the G20 will meet in France to discuss the global economy and the European sovereign debt crisis will be front and center in the discussion.
Next week, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, visits Japan, before himself (ahead of a visit to India, which has just waved off Japan's prime minister) greeting Kim Jong Il, North Korea's once reclusive boss.
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There are new presidential elections in Russia next year, but so far no one knows for sure who is running, and against whom, and it seems that Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are focused on keeping elections backstage, with economic reforms center stage.
Which tactics work better will be the subject of a conversation between Mr Putin and Mr Medvedev when they decide, probably next summer, which of them will become Russia's next president.
Mr Siluanov's first challenge will come next week, when Russia's government will have to submit its 2012 budget for approval by parliament.
Russia is next, with 21 out of 23 playing in the home country, Italy 20, then Germany and Spain with 19 each.
Uneximbank had benefited from the loans-for-shares scheme to acquire, for next to nothing, Russia's fourth-biggest oil firm and its biggest nickel producer.
Its unprecedented military buildup is worrying next-door neighbors Russia, India, and Japan.
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In that phone call the President, in 2004, asked Senator Lugar to be part of a trip to Russia that next year in 2005.
Seismic tests have been done and drilling of exploratory wells is likely to begin next year, so Russia does not want any radiation hazard to overshadow that.
Even if a deal is struck on these and other issues some time next year, and Russia formally joins the World Trade Organisation in 2004, the real battles will only just be starting.
Some analysts say the possible change is a ruse to prolong Mir's life past next June, when Russia, whose government is basically bankrupt, promised to bring it down and concentrate its very limited resources on the new station.
Although demand for LED technology was growing globally, we found that market potential in Russia was next to zero because out-dated sanitary regulations and construction codes prohibited the installation of LED lighting in houses, offices and other places of residence.
The market in India is showing a strong growth in interest in Eduardo Saverin but also a strong interest in Zuckerberg, without any great zeal for Sean Parker or The Social Network, whereas Japan and Russia show next to no interest in any of the main players.
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Russia's next qualifying games are against Azerbaijan on 28 March and Liechtenstein on 1 April.
The Pentagon said its top North Korea official would be visiting Russia and Germany next week.
And this time both president and prime-minister-designate are talking about Mr Chernomyrdin as Russia's next president.
Certainly, Russia can influence next year's presidential election in Belarus if it wishes.
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