World Cup champion and Olympic bronze medallist Australia is out of the medal hunt at the FINA world championships women's water polo competition in Rome.

The Aussie Stingers lost 4-3 to Greece in a quarter-final at the Foro Italico on Monday night.

Adding salt to their wounds is the realisation that the Stingers will now not be able to defend their World Cup crown in Wellington next year.

Australia needed a top-three finish at the world championships to go to Wellington as host New Zealand has the Oceania berth and the top three teams in Rome plus the continental representatives qualify.

Disappointed Stingers captain Mel Rippon said the team's play just wasn't up to scratch when it counted.

"You couldn't expect to score three goals and win a game of water polo," said Rippon. "Pure and simple it was execution with too many technical mistakes."

Stingers assistant coach Greig Richardson said inexperience took a toll.

"This is the start of a new cycle with eight new girls since the Olympics," said Richardson.

"It's not an excuse but they just didn't respond to the pressure."

In the other quarter-finals, Canada beat Hungary 9-7, Russia defeated Olympic champion The Netherlands 9-7 and World League champion United States downed Spain 9-6.

On the weekend the Australian men lost the cross over and bowed out of the top eight in the world and will play for places nine to 12 this week.

The previously world No 8 Aussie Sharks succumbed to Romania 7-5 in what team member Rob Maitland said was “very disappointing”.  

Australian Water Polo