An erratic Yuki Bhambri paid for his unforced errors as he was knocked out of the Chennai Open following a straight sets defeat against World number 47 Benoit Paire, in Chennai, on Thursday.
Yuki, who entered the main draw through the qualifying round, squandered as many as seven break points to lose 6-3, 6-4 against the Frenchman.
Yuki played well in patches and had Paire, who was ranked as high as 18 last year, under pressure but could not finish the points.
A penetrating serve proved to be the saving weapon for Paire as the Frenchman used it effectively whenever he faced break points.
With Yuki's defeat, India's challenge has ended in the singles with Ramkumar Ramanathan and Saketh Myneni exiting in the first round.
In the other matches, second seed and world number 14 Roberto Bautista Agut had no problem in dispatching Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Agut saved both the break points he faced in the match, while breaking his rival thrice.
Also sailing into the last-eight round was Mikhail Youzhny, who defeated Renzo Olivo 6-1, 7-5.
Yuki could have put Paire under pressure when the Frenchman was 15-30 down in the opening game but was hesitant to finish the point early.
The Indian lacked controlled over his strokes as a number of unforced errors had him down by two breaking points. A wide backhand on first by Yuki gave the Frenchman an early break.
Paire served the next at love to race to a 3-0 lead. Yuki got on board in the fourth and did not lose a single point in that game.
Yuki started to get into rhythm and an interesting duel began in the fifth game as he put his rival under relentless pressure. He created two break chances but Paire managed to wriggle out and served out the game with an ace for a commanding 4-1 lead.
The Delhi lad was fighting hard but struggled to contain unforced errors and had to save break points in the sixth game for his second hold.
Yuki had a chance to make a comeback as he had a breakpoint when Paire served for the set but the Indian hit his forehand wide as once again he failed to finish a point.
Some unusual unforced errors from Paire meant that he squandered three set points, serving double faults in two of them, but Paire finally took the set with an ace.
It was a decent start for Yuki in the second set as he served at love. Then he had three chances to break Paire in the second but converted none but the credit goes to the Frenchman for serving well in crisis moments.
Paire was feeling the heat with Yuki coming up with some penetrating strokes.
Yuki was down a breakpoint in the third game but managed to save it. Frustrated to let go the chance, Paire threw his racquet when Yuki served out the game.
The Indian did not help his cause by conceding a break in the fifth as Paire opened up a 4-2 lead by holding his serve in the sixth game.
Yuki had a chance to break in that game but yet again he failed to capitalize.
The Indian saved two match points in the ninth game but Paire served out the match in the next to register an easy victory and advance to the next round.
