MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo tumbled out of the Australian Open today, falling 6-4, 6-3 to unseeded Lucie Safarova.
Safarova, a 19-year-old Czech player who had won only one match in six previous Grand Slam tournaments, faced just two break points in the fourth-round match and continually forced Mauresmo into problems on her serve.
"It's amazing. I still can't believe it," said Safarova, ranked 70th. "I'm so happy. It's incredible."
Third-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion, followed Mauresmo out, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Shahar Peer.
Kuznetsova, troubled recently by a respiratory problem that forced her out of a warmup tournament, dropped serve five times against the 16th-seeded Peer, who spends time in her offseason fulfilling mandatory military service in the Israeli army.
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Unseeded American Mardy Fish was the first men's player to reach the quarterfinals, beating No. 16 David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-5 .
Safarova and Mauresmo played in mostly sunny conditions with the roof open at Rod Laver Arena. It was Safarova's first time on center court at a major and her first match against second-seeded Mauresmo.
"I came out this morning and said, 'Wow this is a big court.' But I felt really comfortable here," Safarova said.
Her boyfriend, 13th-seeded Tomas Berdych, beat Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in a rain-delayed third-round match.
Mauresmo had her Grand Slam breakthrough last year in Melbourne, winning her first major title seven years after reaching her first final, also in the Australian Open. Mauresmo, 27, added the Wimbledon title and spent most of 2006 ranked No. 1.
After recent heat then rain, it was a nearly perfect day for tennis, with the sun coming out occasionally through the clouds.
Mauresmo looked to be in good shape after an early break. But the left-handed Safarova, her right thigh heavily taped, quickly reversed roles and soon was hitting like the favorite. She had Mauresmo running and lunging all over the court, nailed crisp volleys and passed Mauresmo seemingly at ease.
Also Saturday, fifth-seeded James Blake moved into the second week at the expense of a close friend, ending Robby Ginepri's run with a 7-6 (6), 7-5, 6-2 victory.
"He's one of my best friends on the tour, so that makes it tougher," said Blake, offering to make it up to Ginepri today, his day off before playing No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez in the fourth round.
"I'll give him a call, and hopefully I can treat him to dinner or something."
• What: Australian Open
• When: 8 a.m. taped on ESPN2; 5 p.m. live on ESPN2; 1:30 a.m. Monday live on ESPN
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