World number one Serena Williams crashed out of the 500,000-dollar WTA claycourt tournament here on Wednesday at the hands of Klara Zakopalova, the world 95 from the Czech Republic.
Williams lost 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in her first claycourt outing of the season.
The American had been beaten in the final of the Miami hardcourt event on Sunday when her performance against Victoria Azarenka was severely hampered by a thigh injury which required heavy strapping.
The 26-year-old Zakopalova, a top 30 player in 2006, had only won two of her matches on tour in 2009 before this week and she went into Wednesday's encounter having lost both of her previous meetings with Williams, failing to win a set.
Her reward is a second round clash with fellow Czech Renata Voracova.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
