Dinara Safina's losing streak is up to five matches after her 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Magdalena Rybarikova in the first round of 's-Hertogenbosch.
The two also met in the opening round of the Australian Open earlier this year, with Safina going through in straight sets. But Safina is 1-5 since returning at Stuttgart after suffering a stress fracture in her back, winning her first match back but unable to secure another victory.
The Russian also recently changed coaches, ending her established partnership with Zeljko Krajan after Madrid and starting with Gaston Etlis at the French Open.
Ranked No. 1 at this time last year, she is now ranked No. 20 and could be in danger of falling outside the Top 30 with an early loss at Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals last year.
Rybarikova, who enjoys playing on grass, won Birmingham last year.