The evening programme of day 1 started with a victory for Leah Smith (USA) in the 800m free (8:19.24), the day's top performance among women (914 points). The young talent was followed by compatriot Becca Mann, who was 0.09 behind while local Elizaveta Gorshkova took third in 8:29.45.
Tommasso D'Orsogna from Australia started "slowly" but powered home in the last meters in the 100m free (47.11), beating South African Darian Townsend and Anthony Erwin (USA), who tied for second (47.43).
There was a close finish in the women's 100m breast with Japanese Rie Kaneto and Mio Motegi going head-to-head for the touch. Kaneto was the swiftest by 0.01 (1:06.18) while Russia's Maria Temnikova completed the podium.
Another 1-2 finish for Japan took place in the men's 200m fly: Kazuya Kaneda finished in front of team mate Daiya Seto, clocking 1:52.43. Russian Nikolay Skvortsov secured the bronze.
Evgeny Korotyshkin (RUS) - credit: Alex Vilf
Two-time World champion Paul Biedermann (GER) was the easy winner in the men's 400m free (3:44.00). Robert Hurley (AUS) and Evgeny Kulikov (RUS) placed second and third, respectively.
Post-event, Biedermann said: "This swimming pool has a long history and I love competing here. Naturally, it is my favourite distance; I could almost be called a trendsetter."
The only victory for the home squad this evening was in the men's 100m back, where three-time World champion and holder of 11 European titles, Stanislav Donets, touched first (49.74), comfortably ahead of runner-up Robert Hurley (50.70). Donets was the best male performer on this evening, scoring 952 points for this race. The Russian, who failed to make the Olympic team due to recovery following a shoulder surgery, is back in shape.
Following the race, Donets admitted: "I missed swimming so much while I was not able to compete due to injury. I will try to compete at all eight FINA World Cup events. I clocked decent times, as expected; now the most important thing is to keep the shape up and continue in the same vein."
Olympic silver medallist Evgeny Korotyshkin finished third (23.12) in the men's 50m fly, after Matthew Targett (AUS, 22.56) and Jason Dunford (KEN, 23.09).
Hungary's Katinka Hosszu captured two gold medals, in the women's 200m free and 200m IM.