Mauresmo sent packing in Rome

Number one seed Amelie Mauresmo was sent crashing out of the Internazional BNL d’Italia on Wednesday after a 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (9/7) defeat to Austria’s Samantha Stosur in the second round.

World number four Mauresmo, winner at the claycourt event in 2004 and 2005, lost a close first set but rallied in the second to pull level on the tie-break.

Mauresmo then wasted two match points in the deciding set, opening the door for world number 29 Stosur to triumph on the tie-break when her French opponent hit a forehand into the net.

Stosur now moves on to the third round, where she will face 14th seed Patty Schnyder.