British No. 1 Elena Baltacha tumbled out of the Hobart International at the first-round stage as she lost 6-2 7-5 to eighth seed Irina Camelia-Begu.

33327 - Watson soldiers on - but Baltacha bows out

Baltacha played better than the scoreline would perhaps suggest, but was made to pay for her lack of composure on break points. Camelia-Begu worked six, and won every single one; Baltacha had eight, and failed to convert five.

It has been a tough start to the year for Baltacha: she went out of the ASB Classic at the second-round stage earlier this week.

There was better news for Heather Watson, who won an epic, two-hour-and-48-minute battle against Kristina Barrois to qualify for the main draw. World No. 92 Watson beat the player ranked one place above her 4-6 7-5 7-6(1).

In the final of the ASB Classic, Zheng Jie was gifted a victory when fourth seed Flavia Pennetta, who knocked out Baltacha, was forced to withdraw due to injury. The score at the time was 2-6 6-3 2-0 in Jie's favour.

And at the APIA International in Sydney, former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic fell 7-6(5) 6-2 to Lucie Safarova in her opening match.