Home hope Matteo Berrettini fell at the first hurdle in the Italian Open on Thursday, losing 6-2, 6-3 to Alexei Popyrin.
The defeat will see the former Wimbledon finalist drop out of the top 100 in the men's rankings.
The Rome native has had a hideous time with abdominal injuries in recent years, and since the start of the season -- when he had to pull out of the Australian Open -- he has won just nine matches and lost 10.
"It was a pretty bad day, I had no energy and I wasn't able to use the energy of the crowd," said Berrettini.
"This year started in a particular way, and the only way I can move forward is to accept that there will be days like this."
Another Italian in Lorenzo Sonego was dumped out at the first time of asking, the 30-year-old seen off in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 by Peru's Ignacio Buse on centre court.
FIRT-ROUND RESULTS
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) bt Alex Michelsen (USA) 6-3, 6-3
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) bt Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 6-2, 6-3
Ignacio Buse (PER) bt Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) 6-3, 6-3
Andrea Pellegrino (ITA) bt Luca Nardi (ITA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) bt Dalibor Svrcina (CZE) 6-2, 6-3
Cristian GarÃn (CHI) bt Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) 7-6 (7/2), 7-5
Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Francesco Maestrelli (ITA) 6-3, 7-6 (7/2)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Daniel Merida (ESP) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Mariano Navone (ARG) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-4, 6-2
Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) bt Valentin Royer (FRA) 6-4, 6-3
Mattia Bellucci (ITA) bat Roman Burruchaga (ARG) 6-4, 6-4
Marin Cilic (CRO) bt Marcos Giron (USA) 7-5, 6-4
Terence Atmane (FRA) bt Zizou Bergs (BEL) 6-3, 6-4
Thiago Tirante (ARG) bt Gianluca Cadenasso (ITA) 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-0
Pablo Llamas (ESP) bt Ethan Quinn (USA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Tomas Machac (CZE) bt Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) bt Jacob Fearnley (GBR) 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 6-2
Dino Prizmic (CRO) bt Marton Fucsovics (HUN) 6-4, 6-3
Alexander Blockx (BEL) bt Federico Cina (ITA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3