Sania-Francesca stunned at Hobart WTA event

Sania Mirza and Francesca Schiavone's were handed a straight-set defeat by Spanirad Arantxa Parra Santonja and Edina Gallovits of Romania at the doubles event of the USD 220,000 Hobart International WTA tournament on Wednesday.

The fourth seed Indo-Italian pair lost 5-7, 1-6 to their unseeded opponents in the quarterfinal of the hard court event.

Sania-Francesca could not convert any of the two breakpoints in the match while the winners capitalised on the three of the four chances.

Sania will get 70 ranking points for reaching the last-eight-pair stage.

The Indian now heads to Melbourne to compete in the Australian Open -- first grand slam of the year, beginning from January 19.