World no.1 Serena Williams suffered a straight-sets defeat to Eugenie Bouchard at the Hopman Cup in Perth, yesterday, as the United States lost 2-1 against Canada.

The 33-year-old American on Monday recovered from a slow start to see off Flavia Pennetta 0-6 6-3 6-0 and lead her country to a 3-0 win over Italy.

But the following day, Williams – winner of 18 grand slams – registered a costly 23 unforced errors as she suffered a 6-2 6-1 defeat to her 20-year-old opponent in just 50 minutes.

Last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Bouchard was delighted to put Canada 1-0 up, and she told reporters: “It’s a good way to start the year. I really want to start the season strong and matches like this help.

“I just want to keep improving as a tennis player.

“I know how much I still have to improve and that’s so motivating to me because I feel like I can achieve my goals and my ultimate dreams.

“I’m just working every single day towards that.”

In the second match between the two countries, Vasek Pospisil held on to record a 6-3 7-6 win over big-serving John Isner in the men’s singles rubber to double the lead for Canada.

While the mixed doubles went 6-3 7-5 in the way of Williams and Isner as Canada claimed a 2-1 overall success.

The Czech Republic remain unbeaten after Adam Pavlasek claimed a shock victory over world number 20 Fabio Fognini to see his country to a 3-0 triumph over Italy.

The 20-year-old world number 240, fought back after losing the first set to record a 3-6 7-5 6-1 win.

The Italian cruised through the first set before his young opponent levelled things in the second, but the third was all one-way traffic as Pavlasek claimed a 6-1 triumph on his way to the biggest win of his career so far.

In the opening match of the day, Lucie Safarova, who saw off world number seven Bouchard on Monday, claimed her second big scalp in two days as she moved past world number 13 Pennetta 7-5 6-3.

The Italians forfeited the mixed doubles dead rubber against Safarova and Pavlasek after Fognini ruled himself out with a “heat-related illness”.

Meanwhile, Australia have called-up Marinko Matosevic to replace the injured Matt Ebden (calf strain), who was forced to withdraw ahead of today’s Group B tie against defending champions France.

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