MADRID (AP) Sara Errani lost in the first round for the third time this season, losing 7-5, 7-5 to Camila Giorgi at the Madrid Masters on Saturday.
The 15th-seeded Errani was broken seven times in the all-Italian match. She had already been defeated in the first round at the Australian Open and in Brisbane, but was coming off a semifinal appearance in Charleston.
Errani won her ninth career title at the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.
The 50th-ranked Giorgi was a finalist in Poland earlier this month, losing to Dominika Cibulkova.
Also Saturday, 12th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine defeated Yanina Wickmayer of Germany 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round.