Lindsay Davenport's return to action ended prematurely at one of her favourite venues on Wednesday when she lost to Australia's Samantha Stosur 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the Los Angeles Open second round.
Sidelined since March because of a back injury, the four-times champion was broken three times in the final set as Stosur claimed her first victory in their three career meetings.
Davenport has reached the Los Angeles final eight times in her glittering career but was nowhere near her best on a sun-baked afternoon at the Home Depot Center.
Although there were occasional glimpses of her top form with thunderous backhand drives down the line and ferocious crosscourt winners, she was slow around the court and particularly vulnerable on her serve.
The 30-year-old American delivered 10 double-faults in the two-hour encounter, doing so for the final time to gift Stosur the match.
"My body was starting to feel drained as the match went on, especially in the third set," fourth-seeded Davenport told reporters.
"I don't think I could get a serve over 100 (mph). But I'm happy that at least my body didn't get injured and my back is fine."
"Practising for three weeks was definitely not enough time but I felt a strong desire to play out here in Los Angeles."
NO REGRETS
Davenport said she had no regrets about playing this week and that it was always a long
"Believe me, the next time you see me I will be a lot sharper," she said.
The two players traded breaks of serve in the seventh and eighth games of the opening set before the tall American clinched it 7-4 in a tiebreak with a high-kicking second serve.
Stosur, better known for her prowess as a doubles player, raised her play in the second set. She broke Davenport in the fifth game to lead 3-2 and rallied from a weak service game in the 10th to tie the match.
The heat rule then came into effect, and the players took a 10-minute break before Stosur grabbed control of the deciding set by breaking Davenport in the first and seventh games.
The 22-year-old Australian, who has yet to win a singles title on the WTA Tour, surprisingly failed to hold her own serve in the eighth, double-faulting to hand Davenport the game.
However, she sealed victory in the next game when the American was broken for the fifth time.
"I certainly served one of my best matches today and that really got me going for the rest of the match," said Stosur, who has won six doubles titles this season.
"That maybe put a bit more pressure on her serve but I still had to keep my level up out there.
"She always hit the ball hard, flat and deep and close to the line and she was still able to do that today. But I don't think she was moving particularly well today."