Samantha Stosur's preparations for Wimbledon have hit a setback, with the Australian losing in the first round of the grass court tournament in the Netherlands to a rank outsider.
The Queenslander was top seed at the tournament, but her seven double faults contributed to her loss to Belgian world number 251 Kirsten Flipkens, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.
The match was her first on grass since an equally inexplicable opening-round defeat at Wimbledon a year ago to world number 262 Melinda Czink of Hungary.
Stosur's premature exit from s-Hertogenbosch leaves the US Open champion desperately short of grass court match practice before Wimbledon gets underway next Monday.
But the world No.5 put on a brave face and said she was unconcerned.
"Overall, I was quite happy with the way I played. It wasn't really anything disastrous," Stosur said.
"It's just a matter of going out there again tomorrow, practising hard and just fine-tuning a few important points and that can make the difference.
"I don't think I did too much wrong."
The world No.5 started brightly enough, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set and had two more break points to open up a 4-0 buffer.
Instead, Flipkens broke back to get back on level terms before Stosur had another chance to take the set in the 10th game, only to snatch at a routine forehand volley.
Some daring serve-volleying earned Stosur three more set points and she appeared to have nabbed the opening set with her fifth ace.
Alas the chair umpire over-ruled and the Belgian made the most of her good fortune to take the set when Stosur was unable to control a low forehand volley.
Stosur admitted the over-rule proved the turning point as she again dropped serve in the second game of the second set and was unable to recover as the lowly-ranked Belgian powered to the biggest win of her career in one hour, 35 minutes.
"That was definitely a big moment in that tiebreak and obviously in the end of the match because I really thought I won that set and then you don't win it and you're a set behind," she said.
"You take two steps into the baseline, you pump your firsts and you think you've won the set - especially when she's walking to the changeover as well giving you the point - and the umpire decides that's he's going to over-rule.
"Yeah, it was just a few points here and there throughout that first set. I don't think I did too much wrong.
"I made my set points and on grass sometimes the way it goes."
AAP
Tags: sport, tennis, netherlands First posted June 19, 2012 08:31:51
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