Serena hustled out of Hobart

MELBOURNE, Jan 10 (Reuters) Heaving and screeching around court, Serena Williams finally ran out of steam at the Hobart International today.

On the day when elder sister Venus confirmed that she would be skipping the Australian Open after failing to recover from a wrist injury, Serena's own return from a four-month layoff came to halt with a 3-6 7-5 6-3 quarter-final defeat by Austrian Sybille Bammer.

''I've never seen her play like this before in my life. I guess she was just up to play me,'' Serena said.

''I don't think I played that well, I made a lot of unforced errors but I'm a little rusty so I've just got to try and shake it off before I go to Melbourne (for the Australian Open).

''I just got a little bit sore (in the third set), but I wasn't really tired. My body was just feeling sore.'' Serena was joined at the exit by Alicia Molik, who was thumped 6-4 6-1 by close friend and doubles partner Sania Mirza.

Reuters PDS RN2012