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Aus Open Photos: SHOCKING! Qualifier knocks out Ivanovic

Last updated on: January 19, 2015 12:24 IST

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia stumbles

Ana Ivanovic of Serbia stumbles in her first round match against Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic during Day 1 of the Australian Open. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Fifth seed Ana Ivanovic was knocked out of the Australian Open first round on Monday when she was upset by doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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The former French Open champion had roared through the first set in 21 minutes before the wheels fell off at Rod Laver Arena.

Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic serves in her first round match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia

Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic serves in her first round match against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Hradecka, who played only three WTA level events in 2014, raced through the next two sets in just over an hour to send the Serb packing and set up a second-round encounter with Slovenia's Polona Hercog or China's Wang Qiang.

Ivanovic is the highest seed to exit so far, with number 32 Belinda Becic and 27th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova also first-round casualties.

Hradecka, who played only three WTA events last year, caused the biggest upset by overhauling former French Open champion Ivanovic and squealed in disbelief after the out-of-sorts Serb bowed out with her 30th unforced error. 

"I was so nervous in the beginning and same in the end. My hand was shaky," a beaming Hradecka told the Rod Laver Arena crowd. 

Kuznetsova sent packing

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia leaves the court

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia leaves the court after losing in her first round match against Caroline Garcia of France. Photograph: Wayne Taylor/Getty Images

Former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki was another high-profile casualty, the 28th-seeded German upset in three sets by 71st-ranked Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 27th, was also sent packing by Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia and her 23rd seeded Russian compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova soon followed, going down to Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.

Source: REUTERS
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