Heather Watson made an early exit from the Citi Open in Washington as she crashed to a first-round defeat against American wildcard Louisa Chirico.
The 23-year-old lost the opening game on serve but broke back in the next and was then forced to save a break point in the third game.
Chirico was making Watson work for every hold and claimed further breaks in the fifth and ninth games to take the set.
The world number 128 then wrapped up the second set and the match without losing a game as she eased to a 6-3 6-0 victory in an hour and 10 minutes.
Chirico will now face France's Alize Cornet in the second round after the fifth seed dispatched Belgian qualifier An-Sophie Mestach 6-3 6-3 after an hour and 22 minutes.
American Lauren Davis is also through after Zarina Diyas was forced to retire when 7-5 2-1 down in their first round clash. Her prize is a meeting with Romanian Monica Niculescu in the next round.
Rounding off the day's action, Irina Falconi edged a tense tussle with her American compatriot Taylor Townsend 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 6-3.
Source: PA
