Stosur loses, S. Williams hurt at Brisbane

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- Top-seeded and local favorite Samantha Stosur was ousted Wednesday in second-round play of the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Australia.

Stosur, who was born in Brisbane, fell 6-4, 6-2 to Iveta Benesova. Benesova dropped just 12 points over nine service games and didn't face a break point. She had been 0-4 lifetime versus the world No. 6 Stosur, losing all of those matches in straight sets.

Fourth-seeded Serena Williams overcame an ankle problem before finishing off a 6-2, 6-4 win over Bojana Jovanovski. Williams had six service breaks in the match and, uncharacteristically, had her serve broken three times.

While she was able to complete the win over Jovanovski, Williams later withdrew from the tournament. That shoved her scheduled quarterfinal opponent Daniela Hantuchova into the semifinals.

In Wednesday's other matches, No. 6-seeded Jelena Jankovic raced past Nina Bratchikova 6-3, 6-2 behind five service breaks but Kaia Kanepi routed seventh-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-3 in 61 minutes. Kanepi lost four points on serve.

Thursday's quarterfinals have fifth-seeded Kim Clijsters playing Benesova, with that winner meeting Hantuchova in the semis. Also Jankovic draws No. 3-seeded Francesca Schiavone and Kanepi meets second-seeded Andrea Petkovic in the other quarters.