Former French Open finalist Lucie Safarova has been bundled out of the Hobart International by Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki.
The world No.62 on Wednesday sailed through the first set before losing focus with Ozaki winning 2-6 6-3 7-5.
Despite glimpses of brilliance, including three successive aces to win a game to love, Safarova seemed a long way from her 2015 No.5 world ranking.
"I started the match really well then it was very windy so it wasn't easy conditions and she started to pressure me more and I lost the rhythm," the left-hander said.
"I look at it from a good point that I got an extra two good matches for Melbourne and I hope I will peak there."
The result is a boost for 100th-ranked Ozaki who secured a place in the Hobart main draw after winning through qualifying rounds.
She now meets Romanian world No.40 Monica Niculescu.
Safarova heads to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where she reached the quarter-finals in 2007 and again has high hopes.
"I was going into this year with the goal to come back to where I was - reaching top 10 would be great - but that's a long way ahead and I take it step-by-step," Safarova said.
"Obviously it's not starting the way I want to but tennis is a sport that can change very quickly.
"I still believe I have the game to beat great players but I need to make it more consistent, that's what I'm lacking now."
In other day-four Hobart action top-seed Kiki Bertens confirmed her quarter-finals place with a 6-1 6-4 win against lowly ranked challenger Galina Voskoboeva.
The world No.22 easily overcame 310-ranked Voskoboeva from Kazakhstan in 70 minutes and is grateful for the match practice ahead of the Open.
"My body needs matches to play better and I saw that last year in Paris, the week before I won the WTA and then I was in (the French Open) semis the week after so hopefully I can do the same here," Bertens said.
She now meets Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens in the quarter finals.
In the last match of the afternoon Ukraine's world No.61 Lesia Tsurenko won 6-4 6-4 against 2016 semi-finalist Johanna Larsson.
"I'm really happy to play here and get some matches before the Australian Open and get some more confidence before the big event," Tsurenko said.
Her quarter-final opponent was decided late in the day when American world No.57 Shelby Rogers beat Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena, 6-4 6-4.
