Shaughnessy beaten in 2004 opener
GOLD COAST, Australia -- Australia's Samantha Stosur produced the shock of the day with a 7-6 6-3 win over American fourth seed Meghann Shaughnessy in the first round of the Australian women's hardcourt championship.
The wildcard entrant, ranked 153 in the world, overpowered Shaughnessy with her strong serve.
"I went into the match thinking I could win and I did," said Stosur.
"It's the biggest win of my career. To do it here in the first tournament of the year I don't think it can get much better."
In other matches, Russian third seed Vera Zvonereva beat Austria's Barbara Schett 6-1 6-4, Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria beat Czech Denisa Chladkova 6-1 6-1 and France's Emilie Loit beat Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-4 6-3.
At the Auckland Classic WTA event in New Zealand, defending champion Eleni Daniilidou launched her campaign with a 6-2 7-6 win over Croatia's Jelena Kostanic.
"In the second set I was not moving well or hitting the ball well," said the Greek 21-year-old.
"I just tried to fight and at the end of the set, in the tiebreaker, I was again moving and finding my game.
"I didn't feel any pressure because I am the defending champion. I felt it because it was my first tournament of the year."
Two seeds failed to survive the opening day's play.
Fourth seed Maria Vento-Kabchi of Venezuela lost 6-2 6-2 to Zimbabwe's Cara Black and fifth seed Shinobu Asagoe of Japan lost 6-3 6-4 to Kristina Brandi of Puerto Rico.