Russia's Dinara Safina returns the ball to Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm during their women's first round match in the French Open tennis championship at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris. Safina crashed out in the French Open first round after losing 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 to veteran Krumm. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

World No. 9 Dianara Safina of Russia was beaten by Japanese Kimiko Date Krumm in the women's singles first round at the French Open on Tuesday.

Safina, 24, took the first set in 6-3 but lost the following two in 6-4 and 7-5.

The ninth-seeded Russian reached at least the fourth round at Roland Garros from 2006 to 2009 and advanced into the finals back-to-back in the last two years.

Safina's Japanese rival is 39-year-old. Her best result at the French Open was a semifinal finish in 1995.