Heather Watson made a tearful first-round exit at the US Open after succumbing to qualifier Richel Hogenkamp 6-2 7-5.
Watson has never made it past the opening round at Flushing Meadows and her latest attempt was undermined by illness and injury.
The 24-year-old needed one of the tournament doctors to carry her bags as she gingerly walked from the court after the match.
Watson called a medical time-out at the end of the first set after she doubled over in discomfort on her chair, and was in tears as she was tended to by the doctor.
The Briton appeared to be having trouble with her breathing, and had worked done on her back, but after a long delay was able to return to the court and showed signs of recovering her position in the match.
The former British number one had two set points to level the contest, only to spurn them, and was then promptly broken herself to pave the way for Hogenkamp to claim victory on her debut in the US Open main draw.
For Watson it was her latest setback in New York, where she has now failed to win a main draw match in six attempts, and the continuation of a bad run of form heading into the tournament.
The world 73 won in Monterrey in February, but has since struggled to string wins together and was broken three times in the first set as the threat of an opponent she had never previously met became apparent.
Hogenkamp, ranked 165 and a rare presence on the WTA Tour, was particularly aggressive off her backhand while by contrast Watson twice missed by considerable margins on the same side to hand over breaks of serve.
Watson's physical problems then became apparent after she conceded the set with concerned looks all around Court 13 as she was given medical attention.
Watson showed courage to resume, and then dug even deeper to claim a pair of set points after falling 3-1 behind.
But again errors cost her dear, around a rare Hogenkamp ace, and that proved the final straw as Watson bowed out.
Source: PA
