Harriet Dart crashes out in first round of Copa Colsanitas

Great Britain's Harriet Dart was swept aside by Russian teenager Elina Avanesyan in the first round of the Copa Colsanitas on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old was facing an uphill battle after the first service game and ultimately went down 1-6 2-6 to a woman six years her junior, as Avanesyan claimed a first-ever WTA main draw victory.

Dart's serve was broken in the opening game of the contest, and she quickly found herself 1-5 down after a costly double fault and long return, with the Brit's early first serves not coming off.

Avanesyan served for the set confidently after a long return from Dart, who was then broken twice in quick succession in the second set, with the second break coming after a wide effort with so much of the court to aim at.

With Avanesyan serving for the match at 40-30 in the final game, Dart managed to bring it back to deuce but then failed to earn her first break of the match - one of four such opportunities she failed to take on the day.

The world number 100 bowed out after netting a forehand, and Italy's Lucrezia Stefanini now awaits Avanesyan in round two.