Monday 22 September 2014 12:44, UK
Heather Watson made a first-round exit at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open after losing in straight sets to Sara Errani.
The British No 1 only avoided going through qualifying due to Li Na's retirement from tennis and subsequent withdrawal from her home-town tournament, but could not make the most of her opportunity.
Watson struggled on serve, only managing to get 46 per cent of her first serves in, and was broken six times as she went down 7-5 6-4 to the 11th seed.
She said: "Today didn't go how I wanted it to, I played well in patches but didn't keep it up consistently throughout, it was a very up and down match.
"Sara made a lot of balls, she moves well and she stuck in the match the whole way through. That's what won it for her in the end."
Errani said: "I'm getting back in the gym now ready for next week and the doubles."
It was a really tough match. It was very hot today and she was playing very well. Very good forehand, very good serve - it wasn't easy for me, but I'm happy I could win the match.
"And even though it was very hot, I like the hot weather, so it was fine.
"It's very nice here. The tournament has a lot of courts for us to practice on, which is always good for the players, and the hotel is amazing too. We're all really enjoying it here."
No 10 seed Jelena Jankovic registered a straight-forward 6-4 6-4 win over Christina McHale, but Flavia Pennetta, the 15th seed, was a surprise first-round casualty after the Italian was ousted 6-1 6-4 by Jarmila Gajdosova.
No 12 seed Dominika Cibulkova also failed to make it through after the Slovakian was forced to withdraw with an injury while her match against Madison Keys was delicately poised at 4-6 6-3.
Alize Cornet was simply too strong for Romina Oprandi as she raced to a 6-2 6-1 victory, Timea Bacsinszky saw off the challenge of fellow Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-1 7-5 and Coco Vandeweghe brushed aside Annika Beck 6-3 6-2.
