Top seed Amelie Mauresmo fell at the first hurdle when she lost to Russian qualifier Vera Douchevina in the Eastbourne WTA tournament on Wednesday.
Her 6-4, 6-4 defeat in the second round, after a first-round bye, threw world number three Mauresmo's Wimbledon preparations into disarray.
"There is nothing much to say; it was a pretty bad day," the Frenchwoman told reporters. "I should just forget it."
Mauresmo, who will be the third seed at Wimbledon next week, looked uncomfortable on the Devonshire Park grass despite having been a semi-finalist here last year.
She was warned by the umpire after angrily hitting a ball over the stands and into a road outside the grounds after Douchevina went 4-2 up in the second set.
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"Today wasn't really effective, I didn't quite put my game together," said Mauresmo, 25.
"I served and volleyed on the first serve throughout the match but on the baseline points I wasn't feeling comfortable at all."
Former world number one Kim Clijsters continued her recuperation with a 6-2, 6-2 win over former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, the oldest woman in the draw at 33.
TRICKY OPPONENT
Clijsters, who missed most of last year with wrist problems and suffered a knee injury on her comeback in April, declared Spaniard Martinez a tricky opponent.
"Each shot is different and you don't get the feel of her shots," the Belgian seventh seed said.
Clijsters, who had not played on grass for two years before this week, now meets lucky loser Mashona Washington of the United States.
Washington, sister of 1996 Wimbledon men's finalist MaliVai, came into the draw after third-seeded Australian Alicia Molik withdrew due to an ear infection. The American beat Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 7-6, 6-4 on Wednesday.
On a good day for qualifiers, Italian Roberta Vinci, the world number 97, defeated temperamental Russian fifth seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 7-6.
Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, the defending champion at the 585,000-pound ($1.06-million) tournament, came back from losing the first set to fellow Russian Anna Chakvetadze to win 1-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Last year's French Open champion Anastasia Myskina, the fourth seed, was also taken to three sets before beating Venezuelan lucky loser Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.
Myskina declared herself perfectly satisfied after getting little practice until last week because of influenza.
"I am so happy. I am looking forward to the next match," said the Russian, who now plays Vinci.
