British number one Johanna Konta was beaten in the first round of the Sydney International, less than a week before the start of the Australian Open.
Konta, defending champion in Sydney, lost 6-3 7-5 to Agnieszka Radwanska in a repeat of last year's final.
World number nine Konta, 26, had retired from her last tournament in Brisbane because of a hip injury.
"I felt I recovered a lot quicker than I anticipated, which is a massively positive thing," she told BBC Sport.
"I think I'm right where I should be, coming off the end of last year.