Andy Murray's recent revival on clay was halted by defeat in an eventful Italian Open first-round match against home favourite Fabio Fognini.
The 35-year-old Briton, who won a Challenger title in France last week, lost 6-4 4-6 6-4 in Rome.
Fognini, 35, showed his superb ball-striking to win the first set, before Murray eventually clinched a second set that had seven breaks of serve.
But the Italian rediscovered his level, serving superbly, to win the decider.
Murray was playing on the Rome clay for the first time since 2017, when he was the defending champion and ranked as the world number one.