Ajla Tomljanovic's disappointing start to the 2024 WTA season has continued at the Thailand Open.
After the wildcard and 2019 tournament finalist's Australian Open campaign was ended by world No.10 Jelena Ostapenko in the second round at Melbourne Park, the Australian was on Monday beaten 6-3 6-0 by Hungarian qualifier Dalma Galfi.
Despite reaching a career-high 32 in April last year, the 30-year-old's 2023 season was interrupted by injury and illness and saw her slide down to her current ranking of 227.
Galfi, the world No.137, broke Tomljanovic in the second game of the match and again in the sixth en route to taking the first set.
And the Australian's second set started and finished poorly, losing her serve in games one, three and five and unable to break Galfi to be bageled.
2020 champion Magda Linette of Poland – one of two former singles winners in this year’s draw alongside China's Zhu Lin – was another day one casualty.
Linette, the top seed and currently ranked 24 in the WTA rankings, went down in three sets to Russia's Diana Schnaider, 6-4 1-6 6-1.
Former world No.2 Paula Badosa of Spain, made a successful debut in Hua Hin against Thai wildcard Lanlana Tararudee, though not after a scare. She lost the opening set but came through 3-6 6-4 6-1 in just under two hours to set up a round-of-16 clash with Schnaider.
Two more Aussies in world No.101 Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston are in action on Tuesday.
