Australian Jarmila Gajdosova's patchy start to 2012 has continued with a first-round exit at the Qatar Open on Wednesday morning.
Gajdosova was no match for Romanian Sorana Cirstea as she went down 6-4 6-1.
World No.40 Gajdosova managed to secure a vital win for Australia in the Fed Cup just over a week ago, albeit a narrow one against an opponent ranked outside of the top two hundred.
But she followed that with a 1-6 6-4 4-6 loss against Monica Niculescu at the Open GDF Suez in Pris last week.
Meanwhile Germany's Angelique Kerber rallied from a set down and injury to oust ninth seed compatriot Sabine Lisicki 4-6 6-4 6-1.
Lisicki looked in control early and won the first set, but failed to compose herself after Kerber took time out for treatment.
Kerber headed to the locker room at 1-2 down in the second set and the time out appeared to do wonders as she sealed the set with a break.
It was all Kerber in the decider as she broke Lisicki's misfiring serve on three occasions to move into the second round.
The match continues Kerber's strong form after the 24-year-old claimed her maiden WTA Tour title at the Open GDF Suez in Paris last week.
In other matches on Tuesday, Simona Halep came from a set down to defeat Pattaya Open champion Daniela Hantuchova 3-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) in over two-and-a-half hours.
Number 16 seed Julia Goerges showed fine form as she brushed aside Anastasiya Yakimova 6-2 6-2 in an hour and 10 minutes.
Russian Maria Kirilenko dropped the second set but went on to defeat Zheng Jie 6-3 3-6 6-3, serving at 77 percent.
Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer was on court for less than an hour as she dismantled Japan's Ayumi Morita to set up a tricky second-round match with seventh seed Francesca Schiavone.
Lucie Safarova had no troubles in a 6-3 6-4 win over qualifier Urszula Radwanska. She will meet former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the second round.
Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain defeated Klara Zakopalova in straight sets and Petra Cetkovska was a 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 victor over Petra Martic.
Iveta Benesova edged Czech compatriot Barbora Zahlavova Strycov in three sets, 4-6 6-3 6-1.