Sport Forward: Baltacha loses to Dokic in Hobart

Baltacha also lost in the first round in Auckland last week

British number one Elena Baltacha went out in the first round of the Hobart International after a straight-sets defeat by Jelena Dokic.

World number 84 Baltacha, who had defeated former world number five Anna Chakvetyadze to make the main draw, was beaten 6-4 6-2 by the Australian.

The defeat was 26-year-old Baltacha's second successive defeat in the first round of a WTA Tour event.

The Scot will play in the Australian Open in Melbourne next week.

Baltacha had been hoping to gain revenge for her loss to Dokic, now the world number 56, in the first round of Wimbledon in 2003.

Serena Williams, the top seed, had a bye in her opening match and is expected to play her second-round game on Tuesday.

Justine Henin pulled out of the event after injuring her leg in the final of the Brisbane International against Kim Clijsters on Saturday.

France's Gael Monfils is the top men's seed in Sydney and, alongside the other four leading seeds, received a first-round bye.

Sport Forward