It was yet another disappointing Australian Open for Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic as he bowed out in the first round for the second successive year.

The former world number three has now gone out in the first week at Melbourne Park in eight of his nine visits after losing 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-0 7-6 (7-1) to little-known Dutch qualifier Robin Haase on Court 18.

Things had started well with Ljubicic using his impressive serve to full effect, hitting six aces as he took the first set on a tie-break.

However, Haase was always competitive and his serve was also firing as he fought back.

He raced through the third set to take control of the match and closed it out in a tense fourth.

Joining Ljubicic through the exit door were 27th seed Nicolas Almagro and Radek Stepanek (32).

Almagro's defeat to rising Croatian star Marin Cilic can hardly be classed as a shock - Cilic won 7-6 (7/4) 7-5 6-2 - but Stepanek's 2-6 2-6 7-5 6-2 6-3 loss to Vince Spadea was less expected.