Melbourne, Australia, 11 February 2021 | Leigh Rogers

Sam Stosur’s 19th Australian Open campaign started promisingly, advancing to the second round at Melbourne Park for the first time in six years. But the 36-year-old won’t be going any further, this year at least.

American Jessica Pegula eliminated the world No.112 in a second-round clash at Margaret Court Arena this evening, posting a 6-0 6-1 victory.

The world No.61 raced through the opening set in 25 minutes, hitting eight winners to Stosur’s four.

A patriotic crowd was willing on Stosur, who had never previously lost a 6-0 opening set in an Australian Open match. But Pegula was rock solid and confidently dictating play.

Stosur finally got on the board in the third game of the second set, holding serve with her first ace.

However, there was no stopping Pegula’s momentum. The 26-year-old American, who defeated two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the opening round, closed out victory in 50 minutes.

Stosur’s tournament is not completely over, set to play mixed doubles with fellow Australian Matthew Ebden.

Ash Barty, who defeated compatriot Daria Gavrilova earlier today, is now the last remaining Australian in the women’s singles.

READ: Barty beats Gavrilova in all-Aussie showdown

The world No.1 is on a six-match winning streak and considered one of the title favourites – but she’s looking no further ahead than a third-round meeting with No.29-seeded Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova on Saturday.

“There are no easy matches,” Barty said. “Every time you walk on the court, you have to try and be able to bring your best tennis to be able to compete with everyone. That’s just the level that there is now on the women’s side.”

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2021

Aussies in action – day four results

Women’s singles, second round
[1] Ash Barty (AUS) d [WC] Daria Gavrilova (AUS) 6-1 7-6(7)
Jessica Pegula (USA) d [WC] Sam Stosur (AUS) 6-0 6-1

Men’s singles, second round
[21] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-3 6-3 7-5
[5] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) d [WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1 6-7(5) 6-4
Lloyd Harris (RSA) d [WC] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3
Radu Albot (MDA) d [WC] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6-2 7-5 7-6(8)

Women’s doubles, first round
Arina Rodionova (AUS)/Storm Sanders (AUS) d [WC] Simona Halep (ROU)/Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (AUS) 6-4 7-5
[WC] Lizette Cabrera (AUS)/Maddison Inglis (AUS) d Renata Voracova (CZE)/Wang Yafan (CHN) 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6[10]
[WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS)/Belinda Woolcock (AUS) d Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU)/Ankita Raina (IND) 6-3 6-0
[1] Su-wei Hsieh (TPE)/Barbora Strycova (CZE) d [WC] Destanee Aiava (AUS)/Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-4 5-7 6-4
[16] Laura Siegemund (GER)/Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d [WC] Kimberly Birrell (AUS)/Jaimee Fourlis (AUS) 6-2 6-1
Ons Jabeur (TUN)/Christina McHale (USA) d [WC] Daria Gavrilova (AUS)/Ellen Perez (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-4
Arantxa Rus (NED)/Tamara Zidansek (SLO) d Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)/Alison Riske (USA) 6-1 6-7(5) 7-5

Men’s doubles, first round
[WC] James Duckworth (AUS)/Marc Polmans (AUS) d Nikola Cacic (SRB)/Frederik Nielsen (DEN) 6-4 6-4
John Millman (AUS)/Thiago Monteiro (BRA) d Federico Coria (ARG)/Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 7-6(5) 6-1

Australian Open 2021 tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster.