Former world number four Kimiko Date's international comeback ended in defeat in the first round of the Auckland Classic on Monday.

Now playing under the name Date-Krumm, she succumbed 6-4, 6-3 to American Jill Craybas in her first WTA tournament outside Japan [ Images ] in 13 years.

The 38-year-old Japanese player, who unexpectedly came out of retirement last year, looked dazed at the start and promptly lost the first four games against Craybas.

She fought back to trail 5-4 in the first set but paid the price for holding serve only once in the second.

"My opponent wasn't the type who tries to overpower you but she played a smart game," Date-Krumm told Japanese reporters.

"I was in shape to play but practice is different from an actual game."

Seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues, Aleksandra Wozniak, Shahar Peer and Nicole Vaidisova [ Images ] all enjoyed a good start to their 2009 seasons.

Third seed Medina Garrigues of Spain overcame a tricky start to overpower Italy's [ Images ] Mara Santangelo 7-5, 6-0.

Fourth seeded Canadian Wozniak defeated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-3, 6-7, 7-5 number five Peer beat Petra Cetkovska 7-6, 6-2 and former Australian Open [ Images ] semi-finalist Vaidisova squeezed past Russia's [ Images ] Alla Kudryavtseva 7-6, 4-6, 7-5.