The 2010 champion, Francesca Schiavone of Italy, enjoyed a 6-3 6-1 victory over Japanese veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm.

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The opening match on Court Philippe Chatrier Tuesday exemplified the trend: Francesca Schiavone, who turns 32 next month, beat 41-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.

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Maria Kirilenko, at 13th the highest-ranked player in the first-round tie, won the opening singles rubber 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 against 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm.

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One saving grace for Radwanska was her quick 6-4 6-3 victory over Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm which meant she was only on court for 68 minutes.

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Robson, ranked 201 in the world, was in action at the HP Open in Osaka on Tuesday but lost in the opening round to Kimiko Date Krumm.

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The 19-year-old from Florida will play Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski -- a 6-2 7-6 winner over Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm on Saturday -- for a place in the quarter final.

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The other Russian seeds in the women's tournament enjoyed better fortune as second seed Vera Zvonareva thrashed Germany's Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-1, while number seven Elena Dementieva had to hold off the challenge of 40-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm 6-3 1-6 6-3.

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Japan leveled at 2-2 in Moscow as home No. 1 Maria Kirilenko was unable to play due to illness, as Ayumi Morita triumphed 6-4 6-1 against stand-in Elena Vesnina, but Ekatarina Makarova bounced back from her Saturday defeat to beat Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-1 6-1.

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