Johanna Konta crashed out of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome at the third-round stage after a three-set defeat to Venus Williams.
The British number one was facing the American veteran for the first time since March, when victory sent her into the final in Miami.
But it was a different story on the Italian clay as Williams produced two emphatic sets to triumph 6-1 3-6 6-1 in just under two hours.
Fifth seed Konta had shown no ill effects from her first-round exit in Madrid last week with an easy second-round win over Yulia Putintseva.
But she was no match for Williams in a powerful first set in which the 36-year-old American broke twice whilst saving the solitary break point on her own serve.
Konta recovered well with a much more solid second set but Williams upped her game again in the third, seizing her only two break-point chances to wrap up a convincing win.
Source: PA
