Australia's interest in the Wuhan Open did not last long with both entrants beaten in the first round, but Kim Birrell put up a real fight.
Opening play on court 2 the German-born Queenslander won the first set against qualifier Katie Volynets and looked on course to repeat last month's quarter-final win over the American en route to winning the Korea Open.
But Volynets came back to reach the last 32 in just over three hours 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.