Wednesday 8 October 2014 12:57, UK
Heather Watson's hopes of regaining the Japan Open title she won in 2012 took a blow as she was sent crashing out by teenager Yulia Putintseva.
The British No 1, who recorded her first main draw win for two months against Serb Jovana Jaksic on Monday, was unable to make progress after going down in straight sets 6-4 7-5.
Putintseva is ranked 122 in the world - 76 spots below the sixth seed - but the 19-year-old proved a tough nut to crack at the Utsubo Tennis Center in what was the first meeting between the two.
The Kazakh won through to the third round and a potential meeting against two-time champion Sam Stosur, who won in 2009 and 2013.
The top seed takes on her Australian compatriot Jarmila Gajdosova for the right to face Putintseva.
Second seed Madison Keys is safely through to the third round oafter a 6-0 6-4 victory over home competitor Misaki Doi.
The American world No 32 was dominant on serve, winning 67 per cent of first service points, while she also broke her 109th ranked opponent five times.
Third seed Elina Svitolina is also through, but she had a tougher time against Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka.
The teenager took a set off Svitolina, an opponent ranked 224 places higher, but eventually went down 3-6 6-3 6-4.
