Former world number one Jelena Jankovic bowed out of the Eastbourne International in the first round on Tuesday, blaming tired legs and a lack of motivation.
She was followed out by French Open champion and former Eastbourne winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, who lasted only 51 minutes in a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing by Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak in the $600,000 Wimbledon warm-up event.
Kuznetsova, the second seed, said she had had insufficient time to adjust from the claycourt season.
"I can play on grass, I just need time," the Russian, who won here in 2004, told reporters. "I am not a robot (who can) change in a few days."
Serbian Jankovic, the third seed, was beaten 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 by Russian Anna Chakvetadze after an erratic performance on her least favourite surface and said bending low to reach the ball had sapped her energy.
"My legs let me down," said Jankovic, who has dropped to sixth in the world. "My quads were starting to hurt and I didn't have any energy left."
Chakvetadze, ranked 31, took a 5-1 lead in the first set but lost it on a tiebreak after a string of errors.
The Russian, who will next play Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli, took the second set on a single break and raced 4-1 ahead in the third before Jankovic, who needed treatment on her right thigh after slipping in the seventh game, tried to fight back.
"I am missing a little bit of the motivation that I used to have before," Jankovic, 24, told reporters. "It is a constant battle against yourself."
Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland saw off younger sister Urszula 6-1, 6-1 to reach the second round on a warm, sunny day at the English seaside.
Fourth seed Vera Zvonareva was another early casualty, losing a see-saw match with former Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Amelie Mauresmo of France 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
On a good day for Canada, qualifier Frank Dancevic knocked top-seeded Russian Igor Andreev, the world number 26, out of the men's tournament, a new event here and lower-key than the women's competition.
Frenchman Julien Benneteau beat fifth seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round and his fourth-seeded compatriot Fabrice Santoro reached the third round with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over American Robby Ginepri.