World number 12 Konta, who has been battling a knee injury, forced a decider after Strycova dominated the opener - but the Czech won 6-2 3-6 6-3.

Konta, has not beaten Strycova, ranked 31st, in three attempts, last losing in their 2019 Wimbledon quarter-final.

In Auckland, 15-year-old Coco Gauff won 6-3 6-1 against Viktoria Kuzmova.

American Gauff became a global sensation last year after reaching the Wimbledon last 16, backing that run up in October with her first WTA singles title and climbing well inside the world's top 100.

Now ranked 68th, she started her 2020 campaign with an impressive straight-set win against 21-year-old Slovak Kuzmova, hitting 15 winners and four aces in her victory.

Coco Gauff, who turns 16 in March, is the youngest player inside the world top 100

Serena Williams makes her return to the singles in Auckland on Tuesday for the first time since losing the US Open final to Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu in September.

The 38-year-old American, who will go for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, which starts on 14 January, will play Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi after original opponent Svetlana Kuznetsova pulled out through illness.

Williams has been on court in the doubles, however, playing alongside Denmark's former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.

Wozniacki, who won the her maiden Grand Slam at the 2018 Australian Open, will retire after this year's opening major.

The long-time friends are playing together for the first time on the WTA Tour and started with a 6-2 6-4 first-round win over Japan's Nao Hibino and Makoto Ninomiya.