I had gastroenteritis and I had a heavy fever last Saturday and Sunday Greg Rusedski Game-by-game: Rusedski v Costa Day two photos

Rusedski, suffering the after-effects of a fever, was always second best to the 26th seed and lost in straight sets 6-4 6-3 6-4.

The British number two, under pressure ahead of his drugs hearing next month, struggled in blustery conditions.

"I had gastroenteritis and I had a heavy fever last Saturday and Sunday," Rusedski explained afterwards.

"It wasn't the ideal preparation hitting half an hour of tennis balls coming into a major and playing such a good player like Costa," he added.

Profile: Albert Costa

"That is what made it difficult today - a lot of players have been suffering with it.

"I wanted to at least go out there and give it a go."

After losing an initial break in the first set, Rusedski again had his opponent under pressure at 4-4 and 30-30 on Costa's serve.

But the Spaniard upped the pace and never looked back, breaking in the next game and early in the second set.

Rusedski was also broken at the start of the third, and, despite breaking back once, a second service loss proved decisive.

His attentions will now turn to the hearing into his positive test for nandrolone on 9 February.

Martin blow to Rusedski case

"The levels that we're talking about are so minimal and have no use whatsoever," Rusedski said when asked about the case.

"You know, they're just basically levels that there's no benefit there whatsoever.

"Hopefully then I'll have my tribunal and things will go the way I hope they'll go, and then I'll get back to my tennis.

"I am innocent in this situation. I hope that is seen."