Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera has let slip a host of opportunities before bowing out to US qualifier Ann Li in the opening round of the Australian Open.
Cabrera served for both sets but was broken on each occasion in the 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (12-10) loss.
The 22-year-old showed plenty of pluck in the second-set tiebreak, saving five match points before Li finally claimed the victory on her grand slam debut after a brief rain delay.
Cabrera has now been beaten in straight sets in each of her four singles matches at the Open – three times in the first round of the main draw and once in qualifying.
In a tough start for the local contingent at Melbourne Park, fellow Australians Andrew Harris and John Patrick Smith also crashed out at the first hurdle.
Harris, the 25-year-old son of former Australian Open quarter-finalist Anne Minter bowed out 6-3 6-1 6-3 to Italian No.8 seed Matteo Berrettini.
Harris was awarded a wildcard to the Open after enjoying a career-best 2019 campaign which saw his ranking slashed from No.400 to 162.
Smith was also beaten in straight sets.
The 30-year-old wildcard playoff winner lost 6-3 7-5 6-4 to No.22 seed Guido Pella from Argentina.
Smith has now lost all six of his main-draw singles matches at the majors.
There are nine Australians in action on day one at Melbourne Park including women’s world No.1 Ashleigh Barty, veteran Samantha Stosur and Davis Cup duo John Millman and Jordan Thompson.