Anna Karolina Schmiedlova's miserable 2016 season continued as her defence of the Katowice Open came to an end with a first-round thrashing at the hands of Pauline Parmentier on Wednesday.

Schmiedlova has won just one match on the WTA Tour this year, but would have hoped to draw on good memories of Katowice, having claimed her maiden title at this tournament 12 months ago.

However, the second seed was comprehensively beaten by world number 113 Parmentier, who won the first four games and the last seven in a 6-2 6-0 triumph.

Parmentier dropped just seven points in the second set and will now face Naomi Broady in round two.

The exit of Schmiedlova - together with the pre-tournament withdrawal of top seed Agnieszka Radwanska - leaves Jelena Ostapenko as the highest-ranked player in the tournament.

Ostapenko followed up her routine victory over Daniela Hantuchova with another straight-sets win, prevailing 6-3 6-4 against Kristyna Pliskova, who twice moved a break up in the second set only to give up the advantage.

The runner-up in Katowice for the last two years, Camila Giorgi, was forced to come from a set down to beat qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6 6-2 6-4, while eighth seed Dominika Cibulkova battled to a 6-2 7-5 win over Elizaveta Kulichkova.

Kirsten Flipkens thumped Andreea Mitu 6-1 6-2 to reach round three and Timea Babos saw off lucky loser Jesika Maleckova in the first round.