Olympic semifinalist Li Na and compatriot Peng Shuai crashed out of the China Open in the first round on Tuesday, on a disastrous day for the host nation.
In the men's draw in Beijing, former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero and last year's finalist Tommy Robredo both eased into the second round.
Li, China's highest-ranked player who reached the fourth round of the US Open, slipped to a 6-1, 7-6 defeat against Italy's Francesca Schiavone in just under two hours.
Peng lost 7-5, 6-4 to Russian qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva, who made headlines by beating Maria Sharapova in the second round of Wimbledon this year.