By Adrianna Outlaw
© Christian Mesiano

(October 19, 2010) Russians repelled two of the top five seeds at the Kremlin Cup today. World No. 68 Anna Chakvetadze, a former Kremlin Cup champion, beat third-seeded Li Na, 6-4, 6-2 and compatriot Elena Vesnina edged fifth-seeded Flavia Pennetta, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

Chakvetadze fought off four break points to seize the first set.

"I wasn't favorite for the match," Chakvetadze said. "I had nothing to lose and played free and easily. I'm happy I've made it."

The 55th-ranked Vesnina applied pressure to Pennetta's serve throughout the final set. The 23rd-ranked Italian fought off three break points in the second game of the last set then saved two more break points in the fourth game before Vesnina broke for a 3-1 lead she never relinquished. Vesnina converted five of 16 break points in the match.

A tournament runner-up in Istanbul and Tashkent earlier this season, Vesnina will face compatriot Vera Dushevina for a quarterfinal spot. In an all-Russian first-round match Dushevina dismissed Ekaterina Makarova, 7-5, 6-0.

Chakvetadze posted her first win over a top-15 ranked player in 14 months with her last top-15 win coming when beat compatriot Nadia Petrova in the opening round of the 2009 New Haven tournament.

Chakvetadze, the 2006 Moscow champion, raised her record to 3-2 against Li. The former US Open finalist had not won a match in Moscow since she beat four top 12 players in succession — Dinara Safina, Francesca Schiavone, Elena Dementieva and Petrova — to
win the Kremlin Cup four years ago.

Next up for Chakvetadze is a round of 16 match with qualifier Mariya Koryttseva, who beat Klara Zakopalova, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.