Local hope Lulu Sun has become the first big casualty at the ASB Classic, falling to Canadian veteran Rebecca Marino 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the opening round at the Auckland international tournament.
After dropping the first set to her wily opponent, who had won their only previous meeting, the fourth-seeded fan favourite was well on her way towards levelling the contest, before the inevitable rain delay forced them off centre court for about 90 minutes, breaking her momentum.
When they returned, Sun quickly wrapped up the second set, but immediately fell into a hole to start the third, dropping her opening service game. She broke back, but dropped again and fell 4-1 behind, when Marino held her next serve.
Sun struggled with the wind disrupting her ball toss and her woes compounded, when she lost another service game, but she broke back to keep her fading dream alive and managed to hold serve for the first time in the set for 5-3.
Ranked outside the world's top 100, the Canadian served again for the match and needed three chances to finally emerge on top, as Sun showed her fighting qualities.
"Lulu's an amazing player," reflected Marino. "She had a fantastic year Newcomer of the Year award from WTA was well deserved, so I'm sorry I had to take one of the Kiwis out.
"It wouldn't be Auckland, if it didn't rain a little bit. It's just like home in Vancouver, so it made me feel comfortable."
She will now face American Bernarda Pera, who overcame Andorran Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-2 7-5.
New Zealand's only remaining hope lies with qualifier Vivian Yang, who takes on Belgian second seed Elise Mertens on Tuesday.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka breezed through her opening encounter with Israeli qualifer Lina Glushko 6-4 6-4, although her rival battled on through injury concerns that threatened to cut the match short.
The Japanese seventh seed broke early to control the first set, but Glushko left the court for medical attention at 5-4 and seemed tentative on her return. Osaka quickly wrapped up the set, Glushko responded gamely, breaking once in the second set, but was unable to withstand her opponent's power.
Osaka now awaits Austrian Julia Grabher, a third-set tiebreak winner over Spaniard Leyre Romero Gormaz.
Former champion Sloane Stephens was unable to advance past the first round, bowing to American countrywoman Ann Li 5-7 6-4 6-4.
Earlier, Danish fifth seed Clara Tauson cruised to a regulation 6-2 6-3 win over Italian Lucrezia Stefanini to progress to the second round, while Japanese qualifier Nao Hibino bettered German Jule Niemeier 6-3 6-4 to continue her winning run.
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