The French Open will continue today without any British presence, in the singles at least, after Heather Watson followed Elena Baltacha and Laura Robson in going out at the first-round stage.

Watson's 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 defeat by Stefanie Voegele, of Switzerland, means there will be no British presence in the second round here for the first time since 2007.

That, incidentally, was the only other time Andy Murray has missed the French Open and this is the worst performance at any grand slam event since no Britons made it past round one in Australia in 2008.

After Baltacha's defeat by Marina Erakovic and Robson's loss to Caroline Wozniacki, all hopes were on the shoulders of Watson, the world No.48.

But having only just returned after two months out because of glandular fever, Watson's expectations were lower than usual, even if she was disappointed not to take her chance.

"I thought I had a good draw and a good chance to get through to the next round," she said. "I knew it was going to be tough my first match back but still I'm disappointed I lost.

"I was finding it tough to string points together and focus every single point. My mind was kind of wandering certain times. Don't think I started too well in the second set, was very tentative and defensive, but was able to step it up in the second. Just one break cost me in the third."

Voegele, ranked eight places below Watson at No.56, is a streaky player but the momentum was with the Briton as she took the second set to level the match.

Voegele then took a bathroom break and Watson duly dropped her serve at the start of the final set, a break she was unable to recover.

"Girls do it all the time," Watson said. "It's just the norm. Maybe she did need to go, but I should have been focused and ready for whatever.

"I think some girls definitely do that (for gamesmanship). They want to take a break and gather themselves as well and maybe try and slow their opponent's rhythm. What can you do? You'll never know (if they need to go or not)."

Watson said she had felt some discomfort in her right elbow during the match but put it down to not being quite match-fit yet and promised to be ready for the grasscourt season.

"I'm pleased with how I played in the second and third," she said. "I was aggressive. I was hitting it. Just got to get better from there."

Robson is also expected to be fit for her first grass-court outing despite pulling out of the doubles here yesterday because of a lower back injury.

World No.1 Serena Williams cruised through to round three with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Caroline Garcia, of France, while she was joined by No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Tenth seed Wozniacki lost 7-6, 6-3 to Bojana Jovanovski, of Serbia.