Samantha Stosur has failed to make the most of a lucky loser entry at the Connecticut Open, losing in straight sets to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in their first-round encounter.
The world No.25 Sabalenka made short work of the 2011 US Open champion at the WTA event in New Haven, winning 6-3 6-2 in one hour and 11 minutes.
The defeat denied Australian veteran Stosur a second-round meeting with countrywoman and defending champion Daria Gavrilova, who belted Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 6-1 a day earlier to advance to the last 16.
Top-ranked Simona Halep has withdrawn from the event, citing a sore right Achilles tendon, as she sets her sights on next week's US Open.
Fourth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova will get an extended break before starting her assault on the final grand slam tournament of 2018 after being upset 6-1 6-3 by Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova's bid for a fourth title in Connecticut commenced with a 6-1 7-6 (7-3) win over 2016 champion Agnieszka Radwanska.
Kvitova broke the Poles' serve twice in a clinical opening set but was forced to fight back from 3-1 down in the second before closing it out in the tiebreaker.
The third-seeded Czech will play Zarina Diyas in the last 16 after the Kazakh qualifier defeat Greek Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-3.
Brit Johanna Konta was a 6-2 7-5 winner over Laura Siegemund and was joined in the round of 16 by the quartet of Italian Camila Giorgi, Puerto Rican Monica Puig, Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich and, Ukranian Dayana Yastremska, who all won their main draw openers after coming through the qualifiers.
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