BARCELONA, Spain - Sixth-seeded Maria Kirilenko, the champion at last year's Barcelona Ladies Open in her first ever appearance at the event, looks to be in prime condition for a title defense, as she routed Camille Pin on Tuesday, 62 60. Three of the 22-year-old Russian's five career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles came last year, but she's still seeking her first of 2009.

The other seeds in action on the top half of the draw were No.5 seed Carla Suárez Navarro, who, fresh off her runner-up showing in Marbella last week - defeated fellow Spaniard and wildcard entrant Estrella Cabeza Candela, 62 60, and No.4 seed Kaia Kanepi, who was edged by Masa Zec Peskiric, 36 62 64. Zec Peskiric lost in the final round of qualifying, but made the main draw when Anabel Medina Garrigues withdrew with an abdominal strain. This was Zec Peskiric's second win over a Top 20 player, her first coming in February over Flavia Pennetta.

Also Tuesday, lucky loser Emilie Loit got past qualifier Mervana Jugic-Salkic, 76(3) 36 62, María José Martínez Sánchez - runner-up to Kirilenko last year - beat Kirsten Flipkens, 62 62, Severine Brémond topped Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 76(4) 62, and qualifier Tatjana Malek beat wildcard Nuria Llagostera Vives, 63 36 61.

The bottom half of the draw yielded one surprise, as qualifier Anastasiya Yakimova upended No.8 seed Sorana Cirstea, 76(2) 76(5). The Romanian was coming off her best result of the year, a semifinal showing in Marbella last week. Also, Francesca Schiavone stopped Lourdes Domínguez Lino, 76(4) 64, and Nicole Vaidisova - whose six Tour singles titles ties Pennetta for most in the field - handled qualifier Yevgenia Savranska, 62 64.

Second round play gets underway Wednesday, highlighted by the second-seeded Pennetta against Roberta Vinci and Kirilenko versus Brémond.