Rainer Schuettler suffered his fourth first-round defeat of the season when he lost to Phillip Kohlschreiber at the Dubai Open on Monday. The German, seeded third, lost 3-6 6-4 6-4 to his compatriot, and has now won just two of six matches played in 2004.
He remains number six in the world, but his current form is better reflected in a Champions Race ranking of 74.
Qualifier Kohlschreiber goes on to face Feliciano Lopez or Nikolay Davydenko in the last 16.
"I thought if I can hold my serve long enough I would get my chances on his serve because he's not the best server in the world," said the 20-year-old Kohlschreiber.
"At 5-4 in the second and the third sets he made a double-fault and then one more easy mistake each time."
Schuettler said: "I think I am potentially playing to the same standard as last year - I am playing well in practice.
"If I knew why I am not playing to my normal standard I would at least be a step towards it."
Schuettler was not the only big name to go down at the first hurdle, as Australia's Mark Philippoussis lost 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Olivier Rochus of Belgium.
Gregory Carraz thrashed Omar Bahrouzyan 6-0 6-0 in the opening match, and Ivan Ljubicic then beat Massimo Dell'Aqua 6-3 3-6 6-4.
Andrei Pavel of Romania defeated Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic 6-1 2-6 7-5 and goes on to face Tomas Zib, conqueror of Tim Henman. 
MMIX
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