Marcos raced to an early lead, but was unable to overcome home hope Jan-Lennard Struff on Tuesday in Stuttgart. He fell 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in one hour and 42 minutes in rainy conditions.
Marcos, who reached the second round last year before falling to Rafael Nadal in three tight sets, fired six aces and saved six of nine break points faced against Struff. He converted an early break in the third game of the opening set and later captured the opener on his fourth set point. But his German opponent scored two breaks in the second and one more in the third to prevail.
Marcos will next head to the ATP World Tour 500 event in Halle, the Gerry Weber Open. A finalist in 2007, it will be his sixth appearance and first in three years.
