Hobart: Sania Mirza crashed out of the $1,70,000 Moorilla Hobart International with a heart-breaking quarterfinal loss to Italian Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday.
The sixth seeded Indian went down 5-7, 6-1, 3-6 to Pennetta in the Tier IV hard court event.
Sania wasted seven of the 12 break points she got against the Italian, who later admitted that her job was made easier by the Indian's poor form.
"It was not a very good match for the people to watch," Pennetta said.
The tournament is a warm-up for the season's first grand slam - the Australian Open - starting January 14.
Meanwhile, doubles ace Mahesh Bhupathi also crashed out of the $4,65,000 Medibank International after going down in straight sets in the first round in Sydney.
Bhupathi, partnering Mark Knowles of the Bahamas, lost 4-6, 4-6 to the Czech pair of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek.
Earlier, Leander Paes' campaign was also cut short in the first round when pairing with Australian Paul Hanley, the duo lost to Martin Damm and Pavel Vizner.
Thus, India's challenge in the run up events to the first Grand Slam of the year came to a disappointing end.
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