Japanese veteran Kimiko Date Krumm upset 12th seed Maria Sharapova in three sets in the first round of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo today.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic fought from a set down to dump ninth seed Victoria Azarenka out of the Cincinnati Open on Monday night.

Former world number one Dinara Safina suffered a shock first-round loss to Kimiko Date Krumm at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, United States.

Daniela Hantuchova battled from a set down to sink Melanie Oudin in the first round of the WTA LA Women’s Tennis Championships in Los Angeles yesterday.

DEFENDING champion Venus Williams launched her bid for Wimbledon singles title number six with a 6-3 6-2 win over Stefanie Voegele yesterday.