Britain’s Katie Boulter lost 7-5 4-6 6-1 to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of the St Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

The 22-year-old had failed to reach the main draw after being beaten in qualifying by Ysaline Bonaventure but went through as a lucky loser after Dominika Cibulkova withdrew.

However, the world number 88 failed to make her second chance count.

Alexandrova hit 17 aces to Boulter’s six and faces Tereza Martincova next.