JUBILANT: Czech Lucie Safarova defeated Danish sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) in their second round match. PHOTO: REUTERS
Mattek-Sands, ranked 48, upset the world number five 7-5, 6-2 in just over 90 minutes to disrupt Radwanska’s lead-up to next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.
Radwanska’s defeat was the first time since 1998 that the women’s titleholder has lost her opening match in Sydney.
“She was really playing aggressive today [Tuesday],” said Radwanska. “It didn’t matter if it was my first serve, second serve, or anything; she was really going 100% for every ball.”
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is the highest seed left in the draw after ousting American Christina McHale for the loss of just one game.
Kvitova will next play Czech Lucie Safarova, who eliminated Danish sixth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 7-6 (9/7).
Radwanska, who will now head to Melbourne ahead of the Open, said she did not think the early loss would upset her preparations.
“I had a lot of good matches last week (in the Hopman Cup),” she said. “It’s not like I’m playing bad. I’m not worried about that. I just think it’s not my day.”
Mattek-Sands now has a quarter-final against fellow American Madison Keys, who ousted Croatian wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets.
“I’ve played her a couple of times and I’ve never beaten her, so it’s probably one of the best wins of my career,” Mattek-Sands said of her upset triumph over Radwanska.
Cilic, Tomic progress through initial rounds
In the men’s draw, Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic advanced with a three sets win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Defending champion Bernard Tomic took just under an hour to demolish world number 36 Spaniard Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0.
After losing the first game the Australian went on to win 12 of the next 14 to set up a second-round meeting with Slovenian qualifier Blaz Kavcic.
Australian Marinko Matosevic overcame German Florian Mayer 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, while Czech Radek Stepanek came from a set down to defeat Australian Sam Groth 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
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