WATCH | Australian Open: Hsieh Su-wei stuns Garbine Muguruza; Dominic Thiem survives 5-setter

Third seed Garbine Muguruza became the latest big-name casualty at the Australian Open as she lost 7-6(1) 6-4 in the second round to tricky Taiwanese doubles specialist Hsieh Su-wei on Thursday.

In searing heat on Rod Laver Arena, the powerful Wimbledon champion never got to grips with 88th-ranked Hsieh's unusual game style and looked totally perplexed by the end. Muguruza had battled back from 5-2 down in the opening set but 32-year-old Hsieh, who plays double-handed on both sides, pulled out all the stops to take the tiebreak 7-1.

Hsieh pulled clear in the second set with her relentless accuracy but faltered with the winning line in sight, dropping serve at 5-2. Muguruza double-faulted at deuce in the next game to give Hsieh a match point but survived and held serve to ask the question of Hsieh's nerve for a second time. There would be no escape this time as Hsieh guided away a backhand winner on her second match point to claim the biggest singles victory of her 17-year career.

Muguruza joins other seeds Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, Coco Vandeweghe, Kristina Mladenovic and Johanna Konta as early departures from the women's draw. Hsieh will face Poland's 26th seed Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the fourth round of a grand slam singles for only the second time, having reached that stage 10 years ago here.

Thiem survives

Austria's fifth seed Dominic Thiem fought back from two sets down to overcome American qualifier Denis Kudla and fierce heat to reach the third round at the Australian Open on Thursday. Thiem looked headed out the door before he turned around the match in the third set and went on to complete a 6-7 (6/8), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory in 3hr 48min on Margaret Court Arena.

In searing on court temperatures, Thiem wore down the 190th-ranked Kudla to set up a third round match against Czech Jiri Vesely or French 26th seed Adrian Mannarino. "It's awesome. It's only the second time in my career I've come back from two sets down and especially in this very hot weather it was tough," Thiem said.

"We practised all year long to play in these conditions and it's the first Slam, it's very early in the season, so we are at our freshest now. But it's difficult and we just have to hydrate and not try to play too long, which wasn't the way today. I'm off to have an ice bath."

Thiem reached the third round in Melbourne for the third straight year but had to pick up his service after firing eight double-faults. He broke Kudla's serve eight times and lost his four times, but was very effective with his forehand, cranking up 21 of his 57 winners.

Thiem became just the third Austrian man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after Thomas Muster and Jurgen Melzer when he won through to the semi-finals at Roland Garros in 2016. He arrived late in Melbourne from Doha after pulling out prior to the Qatar Open semi-final with Gael Monfils after contracting a virus. Thiem was bed-ridden before flying to Australia, but said ahead of the year's opening Grand Slam he had recovered.

Here are highlights

.@ThiemDomi survives!

After being two sets behind, the # seed prevails in  sets against a resolute Denis #Kudla. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/JXVWUxhsdx

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018

.@GarbiMuguruza in the zone as she steps on court for her second round match.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/W5Wc9yxHtB

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018

Surprising match so far on @RodLaverArena.@GarbiMuguruza trails Hsieh Su-wei 2-4 in the first. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/yC5erk9f5y

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018

Finding form now...@GarbiMuguruza is headed to a tiebreak with Su-Wei #Hsieh in a match that has had FIVE games go deuce... #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/yhe0unhSDO

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018

Growling @GarbiMuguruza is on edge.

She trails 6-7(1) 1-3 on @RodLaverArena to #Hsieh.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MN22SIS7f2

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2018

(Inputs from Reuters and PTI)