Keothavong broke into the top 50 for the first time earlier this year

Anne Keothavong made a first-round exit at the Italian Open in Rome, beaten 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 by Carla Suarez Navarro.

The Londoner recovered from dropping serve to force a tie-break in the opening set, but was unable to get the better of the Spanish world number 24.

And after breaks were traded early in the second, Suarez Navarro broke again in game five and served out the win.

Keothavong won her opening clay-court match of 2009 in Marbella last week, her only singles win since February.

606: DEBATE Who will win in Rome?

In other matches in Rome, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain defeated former world number one Amelie Mauresmo 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2.

France's Marion Bartoli, the 11th seed, beat Peng Shuai of China 6-0 7-6 (7-3), and Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova saw off Russian Vera Dushevina 6-4 6-1.

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