Simona Halep bundled out of Adelaide International by Aryna Sabalenka

Former World No 1 and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep made a shock exit from the Adelaide International.

Simona Halep of Romania talks to her coach Darren Cahill during her quarter-final match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at the Adelaide International. Picture: AFP

Former World No 1 and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep made a shock exit from the Adelaide International, mauled in the quarter-final by the girl with the tiger tattoo.

The No 2 seed, and current world No 4, was subject to a shock and awe performance by sixth 6 seed Aryna Sabalenka as she was bundled out 6-4 6-2.

The Romanian put on a brave face after the loss to the world No 12 from Belarus, waving to the centre court crowd as she departed, but later rejected requests for media interviews.

Just days out from the Australian Open Halep now has a 1-1 record after waiting 12 days after arriving in Australia for her first competitive hit.

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Sabalenka, who sports a large tiger tattoo on her left arm and after the match said when she heard Katy Perry’s “Roar” played at the stadium she channelled her spirit animal, was just too powerful for Halep.

Two years ago, the powerful former world No 9, was mocked by the Melbourne Park crowd for her loud grunts and screeches at the Australian Open.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus hits a forehand against Simona Halep during her quarter-final win at the Adelaide International. Picture: AFP

At Memorial Drive against Halep, the 21-year-old let her shots do more of the talking, hitting 30 winners to Halep’s 12 while only producing the 10 unforced errors.

Sabalenka said she had improved at controlling her fierce power.

“Somewhere in the middle (of controlling her power) it depends on the day, some days it feels like everything is under control other days I feel like I can’t control it so somewhere in the middle so it’s a good balance,” she said.

It could have been even more of a statement-sending win by Sabalenka, she led 5-0 in the second set but Halep then reeled off two games on the bounce showing her trademark fight.

But Sabalenka would not be denied and claimed just her fifth win over a top-five opponent in her career, having been an 11th-hour addition to Adelaide as a wildcard after a poor showing at the Shenzhen Open.

“It was actually a tough match, I knew she would fight towards the end. When the score was 5-0 I knew she would try and do everything to get back into the match so I wasn’t too disappointed that I gave up two games,” she said.

“After the first week in Shenzhen I didn’t feel really well on the court so I’m really happy that I got a wildcard here and some opportunities to play some matches especially ahead of the Australian Open.

“Especially to play in that spirit, it helps me a lot.”

Meanwhile, Garbine Muguruza’s Australian Open preparations have hit a hurdle, with the two- time grand slam winner withdrawing from the Hobart International due to a viral illness.

The WTA tournament’s second seed was scheduled to play Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the quarter-finals on Thursday evening.

“I’m really sad that I had to withdraw from the Hobart International,” the 2016 French Open winner and 2017 Wimbledon champion said in a statement. “It’s such a special tournament for me and it’s been great to return again this year. Thanks to all the wonderful fans and hopefully I can be back.”

Muguruza, who won the Hobart title six years ago, saved a match point in a tough three-set win over Ons Jabeur in the second round.

The world No 34 has four days to recover before the start of the Australian Open on Monday.

Muguruza, desperate to regain the form that saw her reach world No 1 in 2017, made the semi-finals of China’s Shenzhen Open the week before Hobart.

THE ADVERTISER/AAP