Seventh seeded Italian Roberta Vinci fell at the first hurdle on Monday along with compatriot Sara Errani at the $US1.5 million joint WTA and ATP Kremlin Cup.

Vinci fell 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to home hope Vera Dushevina as Errani also went out in the first round in straight sets, losing 6-0 7-5 to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.

"It was tough match as I was trailing in both sets," said the 25-year-old Dushevina, after her fourth win over Vinci in seven meetings.

"But I managed to turn my luck around by keeping focused on my own game.

"Now it's the end of the season and I feel slightly tired but I'm always very glad to win in my home town in front of my supporters."

Vinci, ranked 22nd, started confidently breaking twice for a comfortable 4-0 lead.

But Dushevina refused to surrender and replied with three breaks before Vinci managed to level with a break in the 12th game, forcing a tiebreak, which the 78th-ranked Russian won to earn a one-set lead after 49 minutes on court.

The 28-year-old Vinci started the second set with a break again but in the seventh game Dushevina moved up a gear to roll off four games and close out the match to keep her bid for her second WTA title after Istabul two years ago alive.

Kanepi got past Errani in one hour 39 minutes after breaking her rival's serve three times in the first set to take it to love.

The rivals traded breaks throughout the second but 26-year-old Kanepi held on to set up a meeting with another Italian, Francesca Schiavone, the fourth seed.

In the men's tournament, eight seeded Italian Andreas Seppi battled back from a set down to advance 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) into the second round past Russia's Igor Andreev, the 2005 champion here. - http://www.sbs.com.au