ABU DHABI, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Nadia Petrova lost 6-4, 6-1 to fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko on Tuesday, becoming the first seeded player to be knocked out of the Dubai Tennis Championships.     

    The 23rd-ranked Kirilenko beat the fifth-seeded Petrova in 76 minutes.

    Petrova put only 52 percent of her first serves in. The 18-year-old Kirilenko, who won a total seven games in two previous encounters with Petrova, took full advantage of her opponent's weak second serve.

    "I have worked very hard on my service game, and have also made a conscious effort to reduce the number of mistakes on the court,'' said Kirilenko, who reached the third round of the Australian Open last month. "Also, I have much more experience now."

    Kirilenko won her first WTA title in Beijing last year.

    Meanwhile, Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, who lost in last year's first round, beat German qualifier Martina Muller 6-2, 6-0 win in less than an hour.

    The 2004 US Open champion dominated her opponent with a strong service game and next meets eighth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova. Enditem