India’s Prajnesh Gunneswaran lost rhythm and energy before staging a mini comeback, but eventually bowed out of the Australian Open Qualifiers with a second-round defeat against Germany’s Maximilian Marterer, here on Wednesday.

Up against a rival, who served big and packed a lot of power in his strokes, but placed seven places below him at 228, Prajnesh lost 2-6, 6-7(8) in one hour and 26 minutes.