Cameron Norrie crashed out of an early exit at the Monte Carlo Masters when he lost to Francisco Cerundolo in the first round.
The British number one, 13th in the world, was defeated 6-3, 6-4 by Argentina’s Cerundolo on the clay of the Mediterranean.
fellow british Jack Draper he returned from injury with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in his first round against another Argentine, Sebastian Báez.
The 21-year-old faces 10th seed Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the second round.
Draper was forced to withdraw during a fourth-round match with world number two Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells last month due to an abdominal problem. He then withdrew from the Miami Open because he didn’t want to make the problem worse.
He was severely tested against Báez in Monte Carlo, but saved 11 of the 12 break points he faced while converting three of his four chances.
In his match, Norrie looked restless and had 18 unforced errors compared to just eight winners.
World No. 33 Cerundolo, 24, got the decisive break in the ninth game of the second set when Norrie, 27, hit a forehand.
Norrie began the season with a 21-game winning streak in 25 games, but also lost his first game in Miami Open last month when he was defeated by the French Gregoire Barrere.
Later on Monday, three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray plays Australian Alex de Minaur.
