Sixth-seed Alicia Molik defeated Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-3 in the first round of the WTA Tour's $US585,000 ($A883,000) Shanghai Open.

Australian Molik, ranked 38th worldwide, overpowered the smaller Italian player in two quick rounds on the hardcourt at the Xian Xia Tennis Stadium in western Shanghai.

In other first round play, American Ashley Harkleroad upset 8th seeded Cara Black of Zimbabwe 6-1 6-4 and Dinara Safina of Russia overcame Emmanuelle Gagliardi of Switzerland to advance 6-3 7-5.

Top-seeded Elena Dementieva, fresh from beating American Chanda Rubin to win the Wismilak International in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday, drew a bye Monday.

The Shanghai tournament took a blow when world fourth-ranked Jennifer Capriati withdrew due to a shoulder injury.

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