Canada’s Vasek Pospisil eliminated at Sony Open by Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene

MIAMI – Canada’s Vasek Pospisil failed to end a two-month losing streak on the ATP as the Vancouver player lost his debut match at the Sony Open on Saturday.

The 27th seed was beaten in a first-time meeting with Slovenian Aljaz Bedene 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-3. Pospisil, only recently recovered from back pains that began late in the previous season, won the opening set but could not maintain momentum.

He had never played the Masters 1000 event in South Florida.

Milos Raonic, the 12th seed from Thornhill, Ont., is now the last man standing in singles. He played American Jack Sock later Saturday.

Toronto doubles veteran Daniel Nestor and Serbian partner Nenad Zimonjic were playing against the Jamie Murray and John Peers in the first round.

Pospisil went down in just under two and a half hours, and has not won a match since the Australian Open in mid-January when he beat Matthew Ebden in the second round.

Pospisil ended with a modest seven aces against eight for No. 119 Bedene, with Pospisil never earning a break point while losing serve twice.

Pospisil took nearly an hour to secure the first set but never looked like earning a victory as his Slovenian opponent wore him down and showed up a lack of recent match fitness.