Seventh-seeded Samantha Stosur advanced to the second round of the Kremlin Cup WTA event by beating Kaia Kanepi 6-3 6-1 on Wednesday.

Stosur, coming off a win at the Japan Open which represented her second title this season and fifth of her career, converted four of 11 break opportunities.

A runner-up in Moscow last season, Stosur will next play Alize Cornet.

Two-time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova advanced to the quarter-finals by beating Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 7-5.

Kuznetsova, currently ranked 23rd, overcame an early break in the second set and earned the victory on her third match point.