Australian Open 2018: Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza dumped out by Hsieh Su-Wei

The third seed, whose preparation was hampered by a thigh injury, was edged out 7-6 (7/1), 6-4.

Update: 2018-01-18 05:10 GMT
Garbine Muguruza struggled from the start to keep pace with the tenacious Hsieh Su-Wei whose last WTA Tour singles title came at Guangzhou back in 2012. (Photo: AFP)

Melbourne: Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza became the biggest casualty of the Australian Open so far stunned by Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei in straight sets on Thursday.

The third seed, whose preparation was hampered by a thigh injury, was always trailing against the world number 88 before being edged out 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 in one hour and 59 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

"I knew she was going to give me a lot of pressure," said Hsieh, who was ranked number one in doubles for five weeks in 2014.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Muguruza struggled from the start to keep pace with the tenacious 32-year-old whose last WTA Tour singles title came at Guangzhou back in 2012.

The tall Spaniard had a medical timeout at 2-5 in the first set and after having a foot re-taped looked briefly regalvanized.

Muguruza broke back twice but Hsieh, who works closely with former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee, ran away with the tiebreak 7-1.

"He's always been around me and supported me and was amazing," she said of McNamee's influence.

"My goal to hire him at the beginning was to win a Grand Slam," she added.

Muguruza saved a first match point in the second set to get back to 5-4 but Hsieh made no mistake in the next game.

"At 5-4 I thought I'd keep hanging there and try and take my spot," she said.

Hsieh, whose previous best at Melbourne Park was a last-16 defeat to Justine Henin 10 years ago, goes on to meet 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the third round.

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