Crowd favourite Marcos Baghdatis has been ousted from the Brisbane International in three sets by Jarkko Nieminen.
In a match lasting just over two hours, the smiling Cypriot toiled hard but ultimately came up short.
Baghdatis took the lead in a tight first set, which he claimed 7-5 but that was where the good news for Baggy ended.
Nieminen struck back ruthlessly in the second sweeping the Cypriot 6-1.
The final set was closer, but the result the same – Nieminen claiming it 6-4 and the match.
Nieminen will next play the winner out of No.2 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Argentinian Agustin Calleri.
Earlier, Australia’s Sam Stosur defeated Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-2 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena.
Lucky loser Julie Coin, who upset Ana Ivanovic in the second round of the 2008 US Open, outlasted Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer in a marathon three setter 7-5 6-7(5) 7-6(3) in three hours and 19 minutes.
In other matches, Australian Joe Sirianni won his way through to the final round of qualifying with a comprehensive 7-5 6-1 win over Germany’s Mischa Zverev.
Australian Sam Groth was unable to repeat his success of yesterday, falling to Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili in their qualifying singles match.
Jelena Dokic and Amelie Mauresmo have just started playing at Pat Rafter Arena, follow the live scores.