Daniela Hantuchova became the first big name casualty of the Hastings Direct Championships last night.

The Slovakian eighth seed and world No. 18 tumbled out of the first round 6-4, 7-6 against Russian Elena Likhovtseva, ranked 29.

The inconsistent Hantuchova, who recently split from her Lewes coach Nigel Sears, threatened to level the match when leading 3-1 in the second set. She eventually lost the tie-break 7-3 to lose in one hour 37 minutes in the early evening sunshine on centre court.

Home interest hinges on Anne Keothavong following Katie O'Brien's exit yesterday.

The British No. 3 was beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Italian sixth seed and world No. 14 Francesca Schiavone. O'Brien, from North Humberside, had chances in the first set in chilly, windy conditions on court one.

She matched her London-based opponent in the first six games but the writing was on the wall when she lost the next five and a double fault then gifted Schiavone a double break in the second set.

"I was a little bit disappointed," O'Brien said. "The first set was good but in the second set I made too many errors and gave it to her too easily."

Nathalie Dechy set up a second round clash with world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo tomorrow thanks to a 6-1 6-4 win over Shahar Peer.

Two-time quarter-finalist Ai Sugiyama faces fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in round two after her Slovenian opponent Katarina Srebotnik retired with a thumb injury when 4-1 down in the final set.