Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, 25 February 2014 | tennis.com.au

Matt Ebden has fallen in the first round of the ATP/WTA event in Acapulco, Mexico to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.

The Australian began strongly against his 46th-ranked opponent, and stayed with him for much of the first set before losing it 7-5.

He then fell away in the second set, struggling mightily on serve with a first-serve percentage of just 33 per cent, three double faults, and winning just one of 10 points on his second delivery.

Chardy wrapped up the 7-5 6-0 win in one hour and five minutes, progressing to a second round match-up against either eighth seed Vasek Pospisil or Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Ebden’s compatriot Marinko Matosevic will open his campaign against No.4 seed Grigor Dimitrov.