US Open champion Sam Stosur has crashed out of the Australian Open, losing 7-6, 6-3 in her first round match against Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
The world No.60 played a superb game in front of the shocked Rod Laver Arena crowd and refused to allow Stosur to gain any rhythm in the match, finishing it off in 91 minutes.
Cirstea hit 28 winners to Stosur's 12, and also hit fewer unforced errors. She adopted an aggressive game plan against the Australian, winning 16 points at the net compared to Stosur's five.
For Stosur, the sixth seed for the tournament, the loss continues a disappointing start to the year. She had lost to Francesca Schiavone in the first round of the WTA Apia Sydney International, after crashing out of the second round of the WTA Brisbane International.
Cirstea will now play the winner of the match between Alison Riske and Urszula Radwanska in the second round of the Australian Open 2012.
