It took less than three hours of play at the Australian Open for Andy Murray to be Britain’s sole singles representative after Laura Robson and Heather Watson both suffered first-round defeats.
British number one Robson suffered the ignominy of being the first player knocked out of the tournament with a crushing 6-3 6-0 loss to 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens.
Watson fared considerably better, putting in an impressive performance against 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova before going down 7-5 3-6 6-3.
The 21-year-old had to fight her way through qualifying in Melbourne after a 2013 season ruined by glandular fever then sent her plummeting outside the top 100.
oth players are hoping to play next at the WTA Tour event in Paris, although Watson’s ranking means she may not get in, before teaming up to represent Britain at the Fed Cup.
Robson is hoping another two weeks of training will help her get closer to her best form.
She said: “Definitely it motivates you to do better and be as fit as possible, and that’s what I’ll do in the next couple of weeks. Whether that’s going to be in Florida or London, I’m not sure yet.
“It’s a tough one today, but everyone has those kind of days, and you have to just come back from them stronger.”
Watson will have to play some tournaments on the second-tier ITF circuit because of her ranking, but she said: “Sometimes it’s a good thing playing a bit lower down, winning matches and gaining confidence, and I think that’s what I need.
“This was the main thing I had to defend so I’ve pretty much got nothing now.”