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Stuttgart A pair of Russians started Wednesday's action at the Porsche Grand Prix in winning fashion, with Anastasija Pavlyuchenkova and Veronika Kudermetova advancing to the second round the day after Maria Sharapova's early exit.
World number 27 Pavlyuchenkova edged 13th-ranked American Madison Keys 7-6 (9-7), 5-7, 6-2 in a marathon lasting 2 hours 45 minutes in her return to the tournament after missing out last year.
Qualifier Kudermetova, ranked 193rd, meanwhile took 80 minutes less to oust world number 25 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, with the help of nine aces.
Three-times champion Sharapova had lost Tuesday against French sixth seed Caroline Garcia.
Pavlyuchenkova saved a set point against US~Open runner-up Keys in the tiebreak before taking the opening set of the hard-hitting affair.
She dropped the second during which she was treated for what appeared to be shoulder problems but got the deciding break in the final game of the third to win on her second match point when Keys netted a forehand.
"It was a few points here and there,"Pavlyuchenkova said."She is a great player, I knew it would be very tough."
Set to play later was two-time champion Angelique Kerber of Germany against Czech Petra Kvitova, who trounced Kerber Sunday in the Fed Cup in the same arena. World number one Simona Halep of Romania was to open the second round against Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.
