Puig outlasts Stosur

Samantha Stosur is currently playing Monica Puig on Margaret Court Arena and serving well, having lost only one point on first serve in her opening two service games.

Then she broke the Puig serve to lead 3-2.

Able to consolidate at 4-2, Stosur was errant in the following Puig service game and virtually gifted it to the Puerto Rican.

Better control of ground strokes and a strong serve pushed Samantha to 5-3 and within a game of the first set.

Puig held easily to make Stosur have to serve it out.

Elsewhere Denis Shapovalov defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas

Anett Kontaveit (32) defeated Aleksandra Krunic 

Magda Linette defeated Jennifer Brady

Katerina Siniakova defeated Maria Sakkari 

Andreas Seppi defeated Corentin Moutet

Yoshihito Nishioka defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber 

Grigor Dimitrov defeated Dennis Novak

Stosur’s first serve percentage was over 90 and she won over 90% of points on her first serve, enabling her to parcel up the first set for delivery home to Queensland 6-4.

Stosur broke at the same stage in set two for a 3-2 lead, and two double faults didn’t prevent her next game.

Unforced errors and 30-30 on the following Puig game.

However she forced her way through to 3-4.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (15) defeated Kateryna Kozlova.

Samantha struggled with her first serve and faced her first break point of the match. A shot hit long by Puig saved it and an ace brought up game point.

Puig punished Stosur with a clean winner and a double fault gave Puig a second chance - a big forehand saved this one.

Deuce arrived after a third break point was not converted.

A brilliant lob winner from Puig on her fourth opportunity levelled things at 4-4.

A quick fire game from Puig saw her take the lead 5-4

A tie break eventuated with Puig in control before a Stosur comeback and a match point.

Puig denied the Australian and proceeded to win the set and demand a decider.

The first three games of set three went to serve and Stosur led 2-1.

A crafty drop shot followed by an ace secured the fourth game for Puig and it was even at 2-2. Soon it was 3-3.

Using her pace of shot, Puig brought up two break points and only needed one to take a big hold of the match 4-3 and serve to come.

A comfortable hold and Puig was a game away from the second round.

An excellent love game from Stosur but was it too late ?

Puig was victorious on her first match point 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4.

Yet another disappointing Aus Open for Samantha, especially given her great first set and a half.