Johanna Konta’s Sydney International title defence swiftly ended in a defeat to Agnieszka Radwanska in the first round.

A surprising slide in the rankings to 28th meant the former world No2 Radwanska entered as an unseeded player, but she showed her quality in a 6-3, 7-5 victory.

In what was a repeat of last year’s final, the fourth-seed Konta could not take control against Poland’s former Wimbledon runner-up.

Consolation for Konta came with the fact she completed the match without physical problems, five days after being forced to retire from her Brisbane International quarter-final with Elina Svitolina owing to injury.

She now heads for Melbourne and the Australian Open, where 12 months ago she reached the quarter-finals, while Radwanska stays in Sydney and faces the American teenager CiCi Bellis next.

Radwanska told wtatennis.com: “I’m just so happy to play such a great match before the Australian Open. It was a top-10 level match with some ups and downs, breaks along the way. The conditions weren’t easy but I’m happy to win in two sets.”

The Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova won a second-round match against Russia’s Elena Vesnina to reach the quarter-finals, coming through for a 6-4, 6-4 victor. The Czech Barbora Strycova and the Australian Samantha Stosur also won on Tuesday.