The Sydney International continued to be a graveyard for some of the top names in women's tennis with champion and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki both losing in the second round on Tuesday.
Men's champion Bernard Tomic, however, followed up the exploits of fellow Australian Marko Matosevic, who earlier beat Florian Mayer 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, to demolish eighth seed Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Radwanska and Wozniacki followed Grand Slam champions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone and former world number one Jelena Jankvoic as early evictees from the tournament.
Radwanska's title defence lasted just 92 minutes when she was dumped out 7-5, 6-2 by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while Wozniacki, who struggled in her first round match on Monday, was beaten 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) by Czech Lucie Safarova.
Mattek-Sands will now face fellow American Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will play Safarova in the quarterfinals after the second seed smashed American qualifier Christina McHale 6-1, 6-0 in a little over an hour.
Bopanna-Qureshi win
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-haq Qureshi overcame a spirited challenge from Jean-Julien Roger and Horia Tecau in the first round of the doubles event, reports PTI.
The third-seeded Indo-Pak pair recorded a hard-fought 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (2-8), 10-3 win over the unseeded Dutch-Romanian team in one hour and 41 minutes.
They next face Treat Huey from Philippines and Briton Dominic Inglot, who ousted Spaniards Pablo Andujar and David Marrero 6-4, 6-3 in their opening round.
Hewitt withdraws
Australian Lleyton Hewitt took a different approach to being ready for the Australian Open, the opening Grand Slam of the year, by withdrawing from the invitational Kooyong Classic tournament in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old caused a major upset at the Brisbane International defeating Roger Federer in the final on Sunday and he said he felt he would need the week off to recover properly for the season-opening Grand Slam.
Ferrer honoured
Verdasco's compatriot David Ferrer was given a traditional Maori welcome at the Auckland Open on Tuesday in recognition of his contribution to the tournament.Ferrer will be making his 10th appearance at the tournament, having won four titles, including the last three in succession.
Ferrer will meet qualifier Donald Young in the second round on Wednesday after the American overcame Argentina's Federico Delbonis 7-5, 6-2.
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