Emma Raducanu has exited the Madrid Open in the first round after losing in straight sets to qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle.
The British star was given a boost after originally being drawn to face former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova.
The 32-year-old ended up withdrawing from the tournament and she was replaced by Carle.
The Argentine is enjoying her best-ever year on the WTA Tour having reached a career-high ranking of 82nd.
But Raducanu would have fancied her chances having started the claycourt season in fine form.
The 21-year-old helped Great Britain beat France in their Billie Jean King Cup clash earlier this month before reaching the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.
But Raducanu looked far from her best as Carle took full advantage of the Brit’s below-par display.
The 24-year-old raced to a one-set lead with Raducanu picking up just two games in 38 minutes.
The second set followed a similar pattern as she lost her first three service games.
Carle wrapped up the match soon after to send Raducanu crashing out of the tournament in a bitter blow to her preparations for the French Open.
Raducanu won just 14.3 per cent of points on her second serve in the match and won just 35 per cent of total service points throughout.
Speaking before her first-round match, Raducanu admitted to feeling ‘tired’ after her start to the claycourt season.
Emma Raducanu won just four games in the match
GETTY
Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup Captain Anne Keothavong was disappointed with Raducanu’s display and questioned just how tired her compatriot really was.
“I don’t think you can overanalysis the tennis because Emma the performer did not show up today,” Keothavong said.
“If Emma the performer – or any athlete – does not show up ready to play then you don’t really stand a chance.
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“She got off to a slow start and was never able to really regroup or find her way.”
Keothavong added: “She mentioned that she was tired in her interview yesterday, but I don’t know. Do you talk yourself into more tiredness?
“On the one hand it’s good to acknowledge it, but on the other hand if you’re going to go out on a match court, you’ve got to be prepared to leave it all out there.
“That willingness just didn’t seem evident today.”
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