Not even Lleyton Hewitt's influence could help Australian wildcard Jordan Thompson launch another giant-killing run at the Brisbane International.
Thompson lasted 90 minutes before being bundled out 6-2 6-4 in his first-round clash with rising American star Jared Donaldson at Pat Rafter Arena.
Nerves did not look it would be a problem for the Australian Davis Cup player in Brisbane.
Thompson, 23, made the Brisbane quarter-finals last year on his way to an Australian Open surge.
For good measure former world No.1 Hewitt - his doubles partner in Brisbane this year - was at his vocal best in his corner for the centre-court showdown with the 21-year-old Donaldson.
But Thompson admitted the occasion still got the better of him after finding no answer to the American in their first career meeting.
World No.54 Donaldson - ranked 40 spots higher than Thompson - will meet the winner of the first-round clash between Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I was a little bit rusty. That was the first match of the year so I put that down to nerves a little," Thompson said.
With Australian Davis Cup skipper Hewitt present, Thompson had hoped to kick-start another dream lead-up to 2018's opening grand slam.
Last year Thompson upset world No.21 David Ferrer on his way to a quarter-final berth on his Brisbane debut.
It set him up for an Australian Open surge in which he upset world No.39 Joao Sousa of Portugal to reach the second round of the home grand slam for the first time.
Thompson went on to enjoy a stellar 2017, claiming the scalp of Andy Murray at Queen's Club and Jack Sock in Australia's Davis Cup quarter-final win over the United States in Brisbane in April.
But he was under pressure from the outset on Monday night, broken in the opening game as Donaldson claimed the first set in 39 minutes.
Donaldson broke in the seventh game of the second set to clinch the result, thrashing a total of 18 winners compared to Thompson's 11.
Thompson said he would now soak up what tips he could from Hewitt in their "one off" Brisbane doubles stint.
They open their campaign against Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and American Ryan Harrison on Tuesday.
Hewitt - who officially retired in 2016 - will also contest the Australian Open doubles with Sam Groth.
"I am really lucky to have him in my corner," Thompson said of Hewitt.
"He has been there, done that in tennis so he knows what he is talking about."
Thompson didn't give away too much on his future doubles plans with Hewitt.
"It's a one off, I think. I don't really speak to him about that but he is playing here so I think it is just two tournaments for him," he said.
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