Ashleigh Barty's bold bid to complete a dream comeback to tennis with Wimbledon qualification has ended in disappointment.
Australia's former teenage prodigy faded to a 3-6 6-4 6-2 loss to Luksika Kumkhum in the second round of qualifying at Roehampton on Wednesday.
Barty appeared on track to move to within one tantalisingly win of a coveted spot in the main draw after taking the opening set before losing six straight games as the seasoned Thai seized control.
The 20-year-old - who won the junior girls' title at the All England Club at just 15 - was appearing at her first grand slam event since the 2014 US Open.
Barty spent 20 months out of the game and a summer stint in cricket with the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL before resuming her professional tennis career last month.
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While Barty bombed out, fellow former Wimbledon junior champion Luke Saville and grand slam rookie Matt Barton are each one win away from a place in the main draw after scoring contrasting victories in men's second-round qualifying action on Wednesday.
Saville battled back from a service break down deep in the third set to squeeze out a 6-4 3-6 8-6 win over Bosnian Aldin Setkic.
Only Germany's world No.469 Matthias Bachinger stands in the way of Saville qualifying for the second year running.
Eyeing his maiden main-draw appearance at a slam, 24-year-old Barton has a much tougher assignment against Russia's world No.100 Karen Khachanov after beating Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador 6-3 6-4 .
