Kurumi Nara crashed out of the Hobart International on Friday in a 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 semifinal loss to American qualifier Madison Brengle.
Nara, ranked 43rd in the world, struggled with her first serve and committed four double faults in the 1-hour, 42-minute match in Hobart, Australia. The event is a warm-up for next week's Australian Open, which starts on Monday in Melbourne.
In Melbourne, Nara's first-round opponent will be sixth-seeded Pole Agnieszka Radwanska.