Juan Martin Del Potro's first match since January ended in defeat to Olivier Rochus at the PTT Thailand Open.
The Argentinian, who had not played since the Australian Open due to a wrist injury, has fallen to 36th in the world rankings but was seeded fifth for the tournament in Bangkok.
But he ran into the Belgian in top form, Rochus finding the mark with 82% of first serves in an opening set which he took on a tie-break.
Del Potro managed a break in the second but he also dropped serve twice as Rochus completed a 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 win in an hour and 44 minutes.
Del Potro was not the only seed eliminated today, with eighth-seeded German Michael Berrer crashing to a 6-4 7-6 (7/4) loss to Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
Home hope Danai Udomchoke was eliminated by Jarkko Nieminen, the Finn completing a routine 6-3 6-2 win in little over an hour.
Ruben Bemelmans joined compatriot Rochus in round two after a 6-2 6-3 win over Dane Frederik Nielsen, while there were also straight-sets wins for Israeli Dudi Sela - 6-3 6-4 over Russia's Konstantin Kravchuk - and Germany's Rainer Schuettler, who beat Ricardo Mello of Brazil 6-4 6-2.
In the day's other match, Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan battled past American qualifier Ryler Deheart 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 in over two hours.
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