Maria Sharapova lost 7-6(3) 6-4 to Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova at the Kremlin Cup on Tuesday in her first match in Russia since returning from a doping ban this year.
The five-times grand slam champion looked tired and committed several unforced errors in the first-round match as she was cheered on by a large crowd who chanted "Masha! Masha!" and loudly clapping her every winner.
Sharapova's first appearance at her home WTA event since 2007 came two days after she won her first WTA title in more than two years, the Tianjin Open.
The former world number one, now 57th in the rankings after rising 29 places following her Tianjin victory, returned to the tour in April after serving a 15-month doping ban for testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.
She was unranked by the WTA upon her return but received wildcards to many tournaments for which a ranking is usually required to compete, a situation that prompted criticism from her rivals.
Canada's Eugenie Bouchard in April called Sharapova a "cheater" and criticised the WTA for sending the wrong message by welcoming her back.
In Russia, Sharapova has been portrayed as a victim of what officials have said is the unfair targeting of the country by international sports bodies that regulate anti-doping.
Russia's athletics federation, Paralympic Committee and anti-doping agency have been suspended over WADA-commissioned reports that found evidence of state-sponsored doping.
Reuters
Tue Oct 17 2017
Maria Sharapova reacts during the match against Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia, Kremlin Cup, Women's singles Round 1 in Moscow, Russia, October 17, 2017. REUTERS
Anwar bertemu PM Qatar, zahirkan kesediaan Malaysia beri rawatan kepada rakyat Palestin
Perkara itu dimaklumkan oleh Anwar kepada Perdana Menteri Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani pada pertemuan dua hala.
Lelaki ditahan bantu siasatan kematian pemuda Orang Asli
Suspek berusia 38 tahun itu telah memandu kenderaan dan membawa mangsa yang didakwa terkena peluru sesat ke Balai Polis Sungai Koyan.
Tourism Johor akan dikorporatkan tahun ini - Onn Hafiz
Kerajaan negeri akan mengkorporatkan Tourism Johor pada tahun ini dalam usaha untuk memperkasakan agensi berkenaan, kata Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Skuad Piala Uber Malaysia pulang awal
Kemenangan tersebut menyaksikan Thailand melangkah ke suku akhir selepas mengalahkan Australia dengan keputusan sama.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF: Seruan adaptasi teknologi untuk PKS harus guna bahasa mudah
Syarikat besar mempunyai kelebihan kepakaran dan sumber yang boleh digunakan untuk membantu PKS turut sama menyertai adaptasi teknologi.
Anwar bertemu PM Pakistan dan Menteri Luar Turkiye
Kedua-dua pemimpin menyatakan komitmen untuk terus memperkukuh hubungan Putrajaya-Islamabad dan melonjakkan lagi perdagangan dua hala.
Patuhi standard pelancongan ASEAN, tarik lebih ramai pelancong - Tiong
Tiong berkata ada kecenderungan pelancong asing tidak menggunakan perkhidmatan ejen pelancongan berdaftar disebabkan kualiti yang lemah.
Nur Shazrin mungkin 'lupakan' Paris 2024
Beliau mungkin tidak akan bersama kontinjen negara sekiranya tiada 'lampu hijau' berikutan tiga jarinya tidak dapat digunakan dengan baik.
Asia Pasifik kini dalam era 'gemilang' transformasi digital - Huawei
Sabrina Meng berkata, rantau Asia Pasifik turut menjadi ikutan pihak lain yang giat berusaha meningkatkan ekonomi digital mereka.
KPWKM ambil tindakan kepada lebih 500 taska tidak berdaftar
Antara tindakan diambil ialah sita, denda dan kompaun, serta pemberian notis peringatan kepada operator taska.