An injury-affected Samantha Stosur came crashing back to earth with a sobering first-round exit at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Riding high after reaching back-to-back finals heading into the first grand slam of 2005, Stosur succumbed to the power and precision of world No.2 Amelie Mauresmo in her first match under lights in Rod Laver Arena.

The Queenslander committed 33 unforced errors in a 6-2 6-3 loss that completed a disappointing day one of the championships for the locals.

Sydney teenager Sophie Ferguson was the only Australian winner after surviving three match points to edge out Spain's Nuria Llagostera Vives 6-2 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.

Stosur said the muscle strain that required treatment during her final against Fed Cup teammate Alicia Molik in Sydney on Saturday again hindered her.

"Every time I went to hit a serve it hurt. I couldn't really avoid it from hurting every time I kind of reached over my head," she said.

"Unfortunately for me, my serve is one of the key aspects of my game. And when you've got a stomach injury it kind of takes it away. I usually get one or two free points a game. I just haven't got that the last week."

Despite her early exit from the Open, Stosur was delighted with the strides she made over the summer.

The 20-year-old has earned almost $100,000 in prize money and risen 20 spots to world No.40 following her charge to the finals on the Gold Coast and then Sydney.

"If someone told me this was what was going to happen at the start, I would have been rapt," Stosur said.

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