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Tokyo - Russia's Maria Kirilenko eliminated US Open champion Samantha Stosur from the Pan Pacific Open on Tuesday, beating the Australian 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round.
The sixth-seeded Stosur, playing for the first time since winning her first career Grand Slam title in New York, trailed in the second set but rallied to break her Russian opponent and take the final two games to even the match.
The two traded breaks in the third set but Kirilenko broke again to make it 5-4 before serving out the match.
"You never want to go out in the first round after the week I had at the US Open," said Stosur. "It's hard to explain how you could do well at the US Open and then not do well here. I came as prepared as I could."
Stosur beat Kirilenko in the fourth round of the US Open.
"I just played her a couple of weeks ago, so I knew what to do," Kirilenko said. "Every time you win a Grand Slam, it's tough to win the next tournament."
Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark advanced despite being pushed by unseeded Jarmila Gajdosova, eventually winning 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-3 in the second round.
Third-seeded Victoria Azarenka of Belarus also advanced, beating Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-1, 6-3. Azarenka, who has won two WTA Tour titles this season, saved nine break points and won 72 percent of her first serves.
Also, ninth-seeded Agnieskza Radwanska defeated qualifier Angelique Kerber of Germany 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 12th-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia beat Laura Robson of Britain 7-5, 6-4, and 13th-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany eliminated Greta Arn of Hungary 6-2, 6-1.
In the first round, 10th-seeded Peng Shuai beat qualifier Jill Craybas of the United States 6-2, 6-0, Christina McHale of the United States defeated Tamira Paszek of Austria 7-6 (1), 6-3, and Coco Vandeweghe of the United States won her rain-delayed match that started Monday over Zheng Jie of China 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2.
