The 2016 Australian Open semifinalist lost her first-round match to Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-2 on Tuesday. It was only her second match since she lost in the quarterfinals of last year’s U.S. Open because of a tendinitis-related problem in her right knee.

Konta lost in the first round at the Brisbane International and then withdrew from the Adelaide International in an attempt to manage her injury. Even before she left for Australia, the British No. 1 told officials she wouldn’t play in the Fed Cup this year.

The 12th-seeded Konta appeared to be moving without issue on Tuesday, but was outclassed by the 25-year-old Tunisian player who had beaten her the last time the two played last year at Eastbourne. Jabeur broke Konta to win the first set, the British player replied with her only break of the match to open the second, but Jabeur dominated the rest of the way.

Konta had always made at least the second round in four previous appearances in the main draw here. Still, she was upbeat after the loss.

«I think ultimately the main thing was to start playing again, and I am,» she said,. «And how I physically felt out there is obviously a massive tick for me compared to where I was in September of last year. Before Brisbane, I had been out for almost 4-1/2 months. So it’s been quite a bit of time, not far off getting a protected ranking.»

Jabeur said her goal this year is to make it into the top 20 — she’s currently 78th — and to inspire other African Arab players to pick up the sport.

«It would be nice to see more of us out here on tour,» Jabeur said.

After torrential rain his Melbourne Park on Day 1, organizers had to move dozens over to Tuesday, including the Konta-Jabeur match.

Sharapova ousted

Former No. 1-ranked Maria Sharapova’s run of first-round exits at the majors continued with a 6-3, 6-4 loss to 19th-seeded Donna Vekic at the Australian Open.

The 32-year-old Russian has had a series of right shoulder injuries and also served a 15-month suspension for a positive doping test to meldonium. Since her return from the suspension, her best showing at a major has been the quarterfinals at the 2018 French Open.

She wasn’t making any excuses.

«I mean, I think I’m not the only one — I can speak about my struggles and the things that I’ve gone through with my shoulder, but it’s not really in my character to,» Sharapova said.

Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 7-5 and sixth-seeded Belinda Bencic advanced 6-3, 7-5 over Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

In a men’s match suspended from Monday, 18-year-old Jannik Sinner completed a 7-6 (2), 6-2, 6-4 win over Australian qualifier Max Purcell, 2018 Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic beat Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

The Next Gen ATP Finals champion won the last two games of the match on Tuesday. It was Sinner’s first Grand Slam victory after losing to three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka in four sets at last year’s U.S. Open.

«I was up in the score, so it was a little bit easier for me,» Sinner said of his brief appearance on Day 2. «Obviously I wanted to finish yesterday. We waited here till 8 p.m., so it’s been a long day yesterday for me, for every player.»

Nadal hammers unseeded Dellien

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal hit the ground running by hammering unseeded Bolivian Hugo Dellien 6-2 6-3 6-0 to reach the second round.

The top seeded Spaniard has never lost to a player ranked as low as world No. 72 Dellien at the year’s first Grand Slam and was never in danger on a sunbathed afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.

«It’s a positive start,» Nadal said. «What you want in the first round is to win, and straight sets is better.»

Bidding for his second title at Melbourne Park, and 20th Grand Slam trophy to match his great rival Roger Federer, Nadal was broken twice by the hard-working Dellien.

But the 33-year-old Mallorcan was virtually flawless in the final set and sealed the match with a crushing forehand winner to set up a second-round clash with either Federico Delbonis or Joao Sousa.