Former world number one Amelie Mauresmo suffered a blow to her confidence before the Australian Open when she was beaten by Patty Schnyder in the quarter-finals of the Australian Hardcourt Championships on Thursday.
The Frenchwoman, making her way back from a shoulder injury, was upset 6-4 6-4 by Switzerland's Schnyder, who claimed victory in one hour, 16 minutes.
Schnyder will now play Li Na of China, who ended top seed Nicole Vaidisova's hopes of a first title in more than 18 months with a 6-3 6-3 triumph.
The tall Czech was troubled by an ankle injury midway through the first set against Li but did not blame the problem.
"She played a great game and she was up before that happened so it's definitely not my excuse for losing today," Vaidisova said. "I don't think it's going to be something huge, but it just distracts you."
Defending champion Dinara Safina was another casualty, the Russian squandering five match points as she was beaten 4-6 6-1 7-6 by fifth seed Shahar Peer of Israel.
Safina had squeezed through her second-round match with Flavia Pennetta of Italy but she was not quite so lucky against Peer, contributing to her downfall with 13 double faults.
Safina had three match points at 5-4 in the final set and two more in the tiebreak, which she eventually lost 10-8, and said she had to improve her concentration.
"If I want to become a top-10 player, I have to stop doing it -- half thinking, half playing," she said.
Peer lost to Safina in the semi-finals last year but denied the win was revenge for that defeat.
"Revenge is a little bit more when you hate somebody, and I don't hate Dinara," she said.
