Samantha Stosur’s preparations for the Australian Open were cut short on Friday as the top seed lost 6-3, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Hobart International to Czech Klara Zakopalova.
Stosur, who suffered with a pre-match nosebleed, was broken on her first serve and never quite got into rhythm. She came to Tasmania to get some confidence after losing all three of her group matches at the Hopman Cup.
The pair will also meet next week in the first round of the Open.
Zakapalova will play for the title on Saturday against GarbiMuguruza, who beat fellow Spaniard Estrella Cabeza Candela 6-0, 6-1.
Stosur was unable to make an impression on the Czech, with Zakapalova saving eight of ten break points and breaking Stosur on all five of her own chances.
“I’m disappointed but it was still a good week for me” said Stosur, playing her first semi-final in Australia since 2005. She has never been past the fourth round of the Open.
