Melbourne, Australia, Jan 17 : U.S. Open champion Sam Stosur is out of the Australian Open in the first round, beaten 7-6 (2), 6-3 Tuesday by Sorana Cirstea of Romania.
Stosur, playing for the first time in Australia as a Grand Slam champion after beating Serena Williams in September at Flushing Meadows, played poorly in her home tournaments, losing in the second round at the Brisbane International and in the first round last week at Sydney.
Cirstea broke Stosur's serve in the fifth game of the final set. The Australian fought off two break points, but let the game slip away when she hit dumped a volley into the net.
Cirstea won on her fourth match point when Stosur hit a looping forehand long.
