BEIJING, Sep 19: Fifth seed Alica Molik worked in vain for nearly three hours before crashing out 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 on Monday night to Mariana Diaz-Oliva in the first round of the 585,000-dollar China Open.

The disappointed Australian, fighting to get back to full form after struggling to cure an inner ear infection which all but ended her career, will now concentrate on controlling her match error rate.

In three sets, Molik committed 35 - 20 of those in a first set to forget. She was unable to repeat the straight-sets first-round victory she took last week in Bali over the 61st-ranked Argentine.

Molik will aim to continue her slow return in Beijing with doubles. The small tournament boasts a big field, with Maria Sharapova on the top seeding and both Williams sisters playing.

Results (first round): Mariana Diaz-Oliva (ARG) bt Alicia Molik (AUS) 7-6 (7/1), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4; Ai Sugiyama (JPN) bt Akiko Morigami (JPN) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.—AFP