The 30th-ranked Russian, who won her third WTA Tour title of the season in Seoul last month, went a break down in the second set before winning four straight games to close out the match.
Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine also advanced after beating Ekaterina Makarova of Russia 6-3, 6-3 and will next play fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder.
Nuria Llagostera Vives of Spain rallied to beat Samantha Stosur of Australia 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and set up a second-round match against second-seeded Vera Zvonareva.
Kirilenko advances at Korea Open
Advocaat: We Can Beat Juve & Madrid
