Rogers Cup 2017: Johanna Konta loses to Ekaterina Makarova

Johanna Konta reached the quarter-finals on her Rogers Cup debut last year

Britain's Johanna Konta let two match points and a commanding lead slip as she lost to Russia's Ekaterina Makarova at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.

Makarova won 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 and will face Lucie Safarova in round three.

Konta, who had a first-round bye as the seventh seed, was playing her first match since losing to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon semi-finals.

The Briton, 26, led 7-5 5-2 but failed to convert two match points in the second set.

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Makarova, 29, is ranked 42nd but extended her winning streak to seven matches after claiming the Washington title last week.

She was always likely to prove a testing opponent for Konta on her return after four weeks away, but the British number one worked her way into a commanding position.

However, two points to clinch the match slipped by as she was pegged back into a tie-break in the second set.

Makarova took it after a Konta forehand error gave her the crucial break, and the Russian got the decisive break at 4-3 in the decider.

Pliskova claims first win as number one

Karolina Pliskova replaced Angelique Kerber as world number one last month

New world number one Karolina Pliskova beat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 6-3 in her opening match.

The 25-year-old Czech is playing in her first tournament since her shock second-round defeat at Wimbledon.

"I had a little bit (of nerves) before the match but during the match I felt much better, especially at the end," said Pliskova, who claimed the number one ranking in July.

"I think it was not the best tennis from my side but I was trying to improve in the match."

Wimbledon champion and Spanish fourth seed Garbine Muguruza beat Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 7-5 6-2, while 18-year-old American CiCi Bellis beat Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 7-5.

American ninth seed Venus Williams saw off Czech Katerina Siniakova 7-5 7-5, while Romania's world number two Simona Halep beat Slovakian surprise Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3 6-4.

German Angelique Kerber defeated Croatian Donna Vekic 6-4 7-6 (7-5) but Czech 2012 winner Petra Kvitova was knocked out by American Sloane Stephens, losing 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-2.