Australian Open 2021: Sam Stosur crashes out; Sofia Kenin breaks down after second-round loss

Sam Stosur’s hopes of a fairytale charge at the Australian Open have been crushed after the veteran could only win one game against American Jessica Pegula.

Sofia Kenin of the US hits a return against Estonia's Kaia Kanepi during their women's singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on February 11, 2021. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —

Ash Barty is the last home-grown hope left in the women’s draw of the Australian Open after veteran Sam Stosur was spectacularly bundled out of the tournament.

A former world No.6, Stosur was shown up by American Jessica Pegula in a match that was over in a flash.

Pegula cruised to a 6-0 6-1 triumph in just 50 minutes as unforced errors and double-faults proved costly for Stosur, who struggled to find winning shots against an opponent 10 years her junior.

Stosur’s only winning game of the match came on serve in the third game of the second set, which was finished with an ace.

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Samantha Stosur was bundled out in straight sets against Jessica Pegula. Picture: Getty Images

A wildcard entry into this year’s Australian Open, 36-year-old Stosur beat fellow Australian Destanee Aiava in straight sets in her first-round match.

But that good work quickly came undone as Pegula made sure Stosur did not reach the third round of her home Grand Slam for what would have been the first time since 2014.

Pegula, who turns 27 next month, is competing at just her second Australian Open after suffering a first-round exit at Melbourne Park last year.

Pegula upset 12th seed Victoria Azarenka in straight sets in her first-round match and will now meet France’s Kristina Mladenovic in a third-round clash.

Samantha Stosur won only one game against Jessica Pegula. Picture: Getty Images

OUSTED CHAMP BREAKS DOWN AFTER SHOCK EXIT

Defending Australian Open women’s champion Sofia Kenin has broken down in tears while detailing the enormous weight of expectation that she felt entering this year’s tournament.

The 2020 champion, Kenin suffered a shock second-round loss to unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi on Thursday, falling in straight sets 6-3 6-2.

In an emotional post-match press conference, the American said she had felt “nervous” about returning to the Australian Open and those nerves had come through in her game on the court.

“Since last year, I won, then obviously I feel like everyone is kind of expecting me to do that (again),” Kenin said.

“It’s obviously tough.

“I felt like I wasn’t there. My head wasn’t there.

😢 EMOTIONAL SCENES 😢

Defending champion Sofia Kenin breaks down after her shock early exit.

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— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 11, 2021

“Obviously I’m not going to take any credit away from her (Kanepi). She played really well at those good points. I had chances. I just couldn’t take it. I obviously know why – because the nerves big time got to me.”

Asked specifically what it felt like to be expected to defend her title, Kenin broke down in tears.

“I mean, I feel like everyone was always asking me, ‘Would you want to? Do you see yourself getting there and winning again?’” she said.

“Obviously I said ‘yes’. Yeah, I mean, with the way I’m playing, no.”

Sofia Kenin packs her bags for the last time at the Australian Open after being knocked out in the second round.

The World No. 4, Kenin had backed up last year’s Australian Open triumph by making the final at the 2020 French Open and made the fourth round of the US Open.

But after a straight-sets win over Australian Maddison Inglis in her first-round match, Kenin was stopped in her tracks by 35-year-old Kanepi.

Kanepi had made the third round of the Australian Open just twice before from 11 visits to Melbourne Park.

Sofia Kenin was no match for veteran Kaia Kanepi.

Kenin, 22, said she had “no idea” what would come next for her but right now she felt “real off” about her entire game.

“I obviously felt like I’m not there 100% physically, mentally, my game,” she said.

“I know I couldn’t really handle the pressure. I’m not obviously used to this, so right now I’ve just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played at (last year). Because like today and those matches, it just hasn’t been there.”