Former Brisbane International finalist Daniela Hantuchova was the biggest casualty on the first day of qualifying at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Friday.

The 32-year-old, a former Australian Open semi-finalist, was beaten 6-1 4-6 6-2 by Belgium’s Ysaline Bonaventure as the race for the four spots in the women’s main draw began.

It’s a glum start to the summer for Slovakian ahead of this month’s opening grand slam of the year.

2012 Brisbane International champion Kaia Kanepi did win her opening qualifying match on Friday, defeating France’s Virginie Razzano 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

Former top 20 player Shahar Peer was another casualty, losing 6-1 6-1 to Slovakia’s Jana Cepelova.

Sara Tomic, the sister of leading Australian men’s player Bernard Tomic, went down 6-2 5-7 6-3 to France’s Oceane Dodin.

Queenslander Kimberly Birrell is still a chance at earning one of the four qualifier spots in the main draw after she eliminated China’s Xinyun Han 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 to set up a second round match with American Samantha Crawford.

Fellow Australians Naiktha Bains and Tammi Patterson were both beaten in their matches.