Stosur, Safarova highlight opening day winners in Toronto

Australian powerhouse Samantha Stosur struggled in her Toronto opener but prevailed amidst a series of upsets that saw two time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova bow out of the WTA premier event.

Former French Open finalist Samantha Stosur battled past Japan's in-form Ayumi Morita 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the second round of the 2011 Rogers Cup, a WTA pemier event being played here in Toronto, Canada. Stosur was later joined by Czech Lucie Safarova, who faced a similar tussle against Slovenian Polona Hercog, winning 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in almost two hours of play.

Unseeded Russian Nadia Petrova, who claimed a title in Elkridge last week, also advanced to the next round with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-2 win over Jarmila Gajdosova of Australia in a 53 minute match.

In the day's biggest upset, Russian and two time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova suffered a shocking defeat handed by Romanian Simona Halep, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to make a disappointing exit from the WTA premier event.

Other notable winners of the day were Jie Zheng, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez Greta Arn and Galina Voskoboeva, who ousted ninth seeded Frenchwoman Marion bartoli 6-3, 6-3 in just 75 mnutes of play.