Clijsters totally off in Australian Open loss to Petrova

MELBOURNE, Australia - Kim Clijsters came to the Australian Open as an inspiration to her countrywomen and mothers everywhere.

After her unexpected win at the U.S. Open, hype about back-to-back major titles followed her to Melbourne Park for the season-opening major.

All that ended in 52 minutes Friday in her most humiliating loss: a 6-0, 6-1 third-round defeat to No. 19-ranked Nadia Petrova.

"I was completely off," Clijsters said. "I think tenniswise, I didn't feel the ball at all."

Defending champion Rafael Nadal also was displeased with his game, although he had a victory to show for it - a 6-4, 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 decision over Germany's Philipp Kohlscreibert.

"In the third, I started terrible, no?" Nadal said. "Everybody has not very good days."

Both top seeds advanced easily in matches played Saturday. Roger Federer reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Albert Montanes.

Defending champion Serena Williams extracted some family revenge with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro. Last year, Suarez Navarro beat Venus Williams in the second round. - AP