Heather Watson is hit for six in the shadow of Melbourne Cricket Ground as she crashes out of the Australian Open.
The British No.2 produced a feeble display as she exited the first slam of the year in the second round at the hand of Elise Mertens after losing the last EIGHT GAMES in a row.
The 27-year-old had high hopes of beating the Belgian No.16 seed, especially as she had won their last encounter a week ago at the Hobart International quarter-finals.
Yet apart from a few brief moments in the first set, Watson offered nothing, losing 6-3 6-0 on Court 22.
It was a disappointing way to lose and the match time of 56 minutes was the joint-third quickest of the tournament.
Her boyfriend Courtney Duffus, the Yeovil Town striker, would have got up early in Somerset to watch this delayed match on Eurosport.
It took place in the far-flung courts of the sit, with the imposing 100,000-seater MCG towering over the players.
Though Watson broke back in the second game of the first set, she was quickly broken again by Mertens.
From there, with the wind picking up, the Guernsey star continued to struggle, hitting two doubles faults at key moments, and winning just 20% of her second serve points.
In total she won just 28 points to Mertens’s 53.
This is the eighth successive major in which Watson has failed to reach the third round.
The defeat also means she is the penultimate Brit to leave the tournament.
All eyes will be on Harriet Dart to put on a better, more respectable showing against Wimbledon champion Simon Halep on the Rod Laver Arena.
Mertens, 24, marches on and will now play American Catherine Bellis on Saturday in the third round.
For the latest Australian Open odds, check out Betway Tennis.
