Sam Stosur crashes out in Brisbane first round

WASHINGTON - Agence France-Presse

Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur’s miserable Australian form continued yesterday when she was knocked out of the first round of the Brisbane International by Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson.
Arvidsson took full advantage of 48 unforced errors from the Australian number one to win 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 on Pat Rafter Arena.

Stosur, who grew up on the nearby Gold Coast, has struggled to live up to expectations when playing in her home tournament and has not made it past the second round in four attempts.

She has also failed to make an impression at the Australian Open, last year losing in the first round to Sorana Cirstea.

Stosur began well against Arvidsson but fell away dramatically as her error rate climbed.

Earlier, former world number one Caroline Wozniacki lost valuable Australian Open match practice when she lost to Kazakhstan qualifier Ksenia Pervak.

In a titanic battle lasting 2 hours and 48 minutes, Pervak eased past Wozniacki 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) in the first shock of the season-opening WTA tournament.

“I had a really tough match yesterday, we played for three hours and I was tired in the beginning,” Pervak said.

“But then I got into the game (and) it was easy. I won a few games and I felt that I can do it and I started to fight more.”

Wozniacki will play in Sydney next week in a last-ditch bid to find some form ahead of the Jan. 14-27 Australian Open in Melbourne.