Second seed Simona Halep has fallen in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open by going down in straight sets to Alize Cornet.
Halep was the first to break in the match and it came at a crucial time as she took a 5-4 lead to open up the chance to serve out for the set.
She moved 40-30 in front in the next game, but could not take the set point as Cornet, the world number 28, broke back.
A tie-break would be needed to separate the pair and it was Cornet who saved another set point at 5-6 before reeling off two further points to clinch the set.
The second was much simpler for the Frenchwoman as she broke Halep twice on her way to a 6-3 success and surprise victory in one hour and 50 minutes.
Italy's Roberta Vinci awaits Cornet in the second round.
Pascal Lemesre
