Australia's women have struggled in the first round on day two at the Japan Open, with Maya Joint and Emerson Jones eliminated.

The 90th-ranked Joint made a brisk start against Turkey's 63rd-ranked Zeynep Sonmez before succumbing 3-6 6-4 6-3.

Jones, the world No.134, also began well in her match with top seeded American Ann Li, but lost 5-7 6-0 6-3.

Australia's challenge will now solely be carried by fourth seed Talia Gibson, who meets Austrian 24-year-old Sinja Kraus in the round of 16 on Wednesday.

Also on Tuesday, American second seed Peyton Stearns bowed out when she retired injured while trailing Czechia's Katerina Siniakova 6-4 0-6 4-0.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek is set to miss the season-ending WTA Finals after the six-time grand slam champion withdrew from the Ningbo Open in China with a thigh injury.

The Pole, who has played at every edition of the Finals since 2021 and won the event in 2023, had to reach at least the quarter-finals in Ningbo to have any chance of displacing Czech Karolina Muchova in the last qualifying place.

Swiatek was hampered by the injury in her 7-5 6-1 loss to compatriot Maja Chwalinska in the Wuhan Open semi-finals last week. She has won only one tournament this year and failed to advance beyond the quarters at any of the four Grand Slams.

"After careful consideration, I've decided to withdraw from the tournament," the 25-year-old said in a statement posted on the Ningbo Open's social media.

While Swiatek is unable to qualify directly for the November 8-15 WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, she could go to the event as one of two alternates.