Lucie Safarova bundled out of Hobart WTA

Former French Open finalist Lucie Safarova has been bundled out of the Hobart International by Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki.

The world No.62 on Wednesday sailed through the first set before losing focus with Ozaki winning 2-6 6-3 7-5.

Despite glimpses of brilliance, including three successive aces to win a game to love, Safarova seemed a long way from her 2015 No.5 world ranking.

“I started the match really well then it was very windy so it wasn’t easy conditions and she started to pressure me more and I lost the rhythm,” the left-hander said.

“I look at it from a good point that I got an extra two good matches for Melbourne and I hope I will peak there.”

The result is a boost for 100th-ranked Ozaki who secured a place in the Hobart main draw after winning through qualifying rounds.

She now meets Romanian world No.40 Monica Niculescu.

“I don’t know her, I just try to play my best.”

Safarova heads to Melbourne for the Australian Open, where she reached the quarter-finals in 2007 and again has high hopes.

“I was going into this year with the goal to come back to where I was – reaching top 10 would be great – but that’s a long way ahead and I take it step-by-step,” Safarova said.

“Obviously it’s not starting the way I want to but tennis is a sport that can change very quickly.

“I still believe I have the game to beat great players but I need to make it more consistent, that’s what I’m lacking now.”

In other day-four Hobart action top seed Kiki Bertens is expected to confirm her quarter-finals place when she meets lowly ranked challenger Galina Voskoboeva.

The world No.22 on should have the goods to overcome 310-ranked Voskoboeva from Kazakhstan.

Sweden’s Johanna Larsson later takes on Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko.

The evening match will be between American world No.57 Shelby Rogers and Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena, who is ranked seven places lower than her challenger.

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