Venus stunned by Suarez Navarro

(GETTY IMAGES)

Venus Williams today become the first high-profile casualty at the Australian Open after being downed 2-6 6-3 7-5 by Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, a played ranked 40 places below her.

Suarez Navarro, the world number 46 is playing for the first time in Melbourne, but she showed few signs of nerves against her more illustrious opponent in their second round clash.

Williams, who reached the quarter-finals in Melbourne last year, was in complete control in the opening set, breaking the Spanish 20-year-old in the first and fifth games.

But Suarez Navarro stole a march on the number six seed in the second set by taking a 3-0 lead as Williams' concentration appeared to desert her.

The 28-year-old American broke back to make it 4-3 but then promptly threw away her own service game to give Suarez Navarro the opportunity to serve for the set which she did at the second attempt.

The third set went with serve until the fourth game when Williams gained the advantage. She was then forced to work hard to hold her own serve to gain a 4-1 lead.

The next break came in the ninth game when a stunning winner down the line got the Spaniard back to 5-4 and she went on to save match point on her own serve to level at 5-5.

Suarez Navarro retained her composure and broke in the next game before serving out the match.

Her reward for a famous victory is a third round clash against compatriot Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.