Follow Sam at her Fan Page
Archives
Video
Sam Stosur Pre Tournament: Apia International Sydney 2012
Duration: 1.87 Sam Stosur arrives in Sydney for the Apia International. View more...
Archive for January, 2011
Sam shifts her focus to Fed Cup
23 January 2011
No time to dwell on opportunities lost, Samantha Stosur has shift her focus to next month's vital Fed Cup tie after having her Australian Open hopes crushed by Czech shot-maker Petra Kvitova. Stosur will lead Australia into battle against two-time defending champions Italy in Hobart on February 5-6. The world No.6 is intent on extending her 12-match winning streak in the competition when Australia makes its long-awaited re-entry to the eight-nation World Group after six years toiling away in regional qualifying. Despite her disappointing and premature exit from the Open, Stosur said there was still much to play for over the Australian summer before she heads to the US for the big hardcourt events in Indian Wells and Miami. "It's a pretty full-on few weeks still left to go," Stosur said as she came to terms with her 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 loss to the 2010 Wimbledon semi-finalist on Saturday night. "It's a tough loss, but I think I can walk off thinking I played quite well and did everything that I could. "I'd much rather have this scenario than have played terrible and lost it myself." Fourth-round showings in 2006 and 2010 remain Stosur's best efforts at Melbourne Park, but the 26-year-old remains hopeful of one day breaking through at her home major. The Queenslander believed she handled the pressure of carrying Australian hopes at Melbourne Park and was ready to continue shouldering the burden that comes with a 33-year local title drought. "Over the last 12 months I've come to realise that it's there a lot more," Stosur said. "I guess the top players, they get used to it and handle it better, get through different scenarios. That's why they're the best. "So it's all a learning curve but I think so far I'm going well. I don't think there's anything that I did that was a detriment to my results here. I know that I've definitely improved in that area." If not the Australian Open, Stosur hopes to win any of the other three majors to validate her lofty status in women's tennis pecking order. "Every grand slam is tough. I'll take any of them," she said. "I'm not going to be picky or choosy. Hopefully one day it's going to happen." Jarmila Groth will serve as Australia's No.2 singles player against Italy, with Fed Cup captain David Taylor also considering Stosur as a doubles partner for either veteran Rennae Stubbs or dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anastasia Rodionova. The Italians have a powerful line-up headed by Stosur's French Open final conqueror Francesca Schiavone and the world's top-ranked doubles player Flavia Pennetta, who is also through to the fourth round of the Open singles. Australia last won the Fed Cup in 1974.Sam exits Melbourne
22 January 2011
Czech party pooper Petra Kvitova shattered Samantha Stosur's Australian Open dream with a straight-sets third-round victory over the great local hope on Saturday night. Stosur never recovered after losing a tense 63-minute first set, eventually succumbing 7-6(5) 6-3 in a major disappointment for the Australian at Melbourne Park. Hardly a household name in Australia, Kvitova nevertheless arrived for the season-opening Grand Slam in ominous form after winning the Brisbane International two weeks ago. The hard-hitting left-hander also reached the Wimbledon semifinals last year and had the Stosur camp extra nervous after crushing the Australian for the loss of just three games in their only previous meeting at the 2008 French Open. Stosur's worst fears were realised when the 20-year-old world No.28 bludgeoned 35 clean winners to Stosur's 11 to send the fifth seed home after one hour and 35 minutes. Australia's world No.6 created ample opportunities throughout the match to break Kvitova but was never really able to come to terms with the southpaw's wide-angled serve to her backhand. "I don't really know how I lost it, to be honest," a dejected Stosur said. "Felt like I started playing a bit better and was probably on top of her and then all of a sudden it was gone and I was a set down. "I thought she played extremely well pretty much the whole way through. It was a match of a point here and a point there and she got the ones that really mattered. "It's a tough loss, but I think I can walk off thinking I played quite well and did everything that I could." Tellingly, though, Stosur only managed to win 38 per cent of points on her second delivery, the usually reliable big kicker that has become such a feature of the French Open runner-up's game. While Kvitova can look forward with high hopes to a fourth-round encounter on Monday with Italian Flavia Pennetta, Australia's 33-year Open title drought continues. "I would have dearly have loved to gone further than what I did," Stosur said. "It's hard when you run into an opponent that's playing very well. They're not easy matches to win. "But I'd much rather have this scenario than have played terrible and lost it myself." Stosur was under the pump from the outset, having to rally from love-40 and four service breaks down to hold serve in the opening game of the match. Kvitova made no mistake second time around, belting a big groundstroke winner to break Stosur for a 2-1 lead before holding for 3-1. Stosur battled hard to break back in the sixth game and, almost inevitably the set was forced into a tiebreak. With a remarkably flawless 34-0 record after winning the first set in Grand Slam matches - and an unflattering 6-30 strike rate when she loses it - the tiebreak shaped as pivotal for Stosur. Alas, Stosur let go 3-0 and 5-3 leads in the breaker - both times when she was serving - and conceded the set on a scorching forehand winner from the fearless Czech. The writing was on the wall for Stosur when Kvitova grabbed the decisive break in the sixth game of the second set. Kvitova then calmly served out the match to leave Stosur's fourth-round showings in 2006 and 2010 as her best efforts from nine visits to Melbourne Park.Say hello to the third round
20 January 2011
Update 10:10 pm. Australian Open fifth seed Sam Stosur has belted her way into the third round after a straight-sets demolition of Vera Dushevina. Stosur was in control of the Rod Laver Arena night match from the outset, winning 6-3 6-2 to set up a third-round meeting with Brisbane International champion Petra Kvitova. “Very excited to be in the third round and it’s probably the best I’ve hit the ball all summer,” Stosur said after the match. “Overall very pleased with the way I hit the ball. Everything seemed to be coming out of the centre and I felt like I moved well, made good decisions. “It's a nice feeling to be able to play that well in front of a home crowd.” “I don't think Vera played too bad. I was just really on it tonight. It was really pleasing to go through a match like that and feel like I pretty much did everything pretty well. Stosur broke the world No.61 Russian in just the second game, using her heavy forehand to force mistakes from Dushevina’s racquet. The Queenslander’s forehand rarely missed as she pushed Dushevina around the court, dictating play much to the delight of the Melbourne crowd. By the match’s end, Stosur had racked up 26 winners – twice as many as her opponent. Games stayed on serve for the duration of the opening set, which Stosur claimed 6-3 in 35 minutes. The Australian was off to a flyer in the second, breaking Dushevina’s serve in the third game, Stosur’s whiplash forehand doing the damage yet again. Surprisingly Dushevina broke Stosur’s serve in the sixth game, a rare double fault from the Australian and a mis-fired forehand allowing the Russian to strike back. Stosur finished the match with a first serve percentage of 70 per cent and added another four aces to her tally and $2000 to the Queensland Flood Relief fund. Adding to the Russian’s pain was Stosur converting four of her seven break point chances. Despite early exits in Brisbane and Sydney, Stosur says she’s happy with her present form and the way she’s striking the ball – the part of her game that is the most analysed by far. But it was another aspect of the Australian’s game that she gave credit for her ascension to the top 10 – her concentration. The Queenslander said that she’s now able to concentrate throughout the duration of matches – something that has helped her stay in some longer three-set matches. The world No.6 will now prepare for her meeting with Kvitova, some time on Saturday. Kvitova triumphed in their only meeting at the French Open in 2008. No doubt Stosur will be looking to square the ledger on the weekend. “She's a good player. She won Brisbane. She's obviously feeling pretty comfortable down here in Australia, but so am I, so I guess I have the home‑court advantage. I'll try to use it to the best of my advantage.”Rally for Relief
20 January 2011
Check out some shots of me at the Rally for Relief with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki and more.[gallery order="DESC"]Bright start for Sam
18 January 2011
Sam Stosur wasted no time confirming her place as an Australian favourite, brushing aside America' s Lauren Davis in two sets, 6-1, 6-1. Lasting just 53 minutes in duration, Stosur played at her brutal best to take down wildcard Davis, and admitted there was little she could have improved on. "Yeah, I thought I played very well," the Australian No.1 said. "There's not too much I did wrong, I don't think. Was able to set up points, rally well. When I got a chance to hit the winner, I did. So, yeah, a very good way to start the tournament." "During the warmup, I started feeling pretty comfortable with the ball I was getting. Kind of had the feeling if I set up the point, hit a good shot to begin with at the start of the rally, I was going to be able to dictate, do whatever I wanted to do. I was pleased I was able to do that pretty much from the first point to the last point." Things looked ominous for Davis from the start as Stosur opened with a love service game, and used her impressive forehand to streak ahead into an early lead. The 17-year-old American, playing in her first Grand Slam event, struggled against Stosur's kick-serve, and before long was staring at a 0-5 scoreline in the opening set. Davis finally registered some points on the board after a couple of rare mistakes from the Australian, but the fifth seed was able to take the set with another love service game. The 26-year-old Queenslander continued her unbeatable form in the second set, but not without the pocket-sized American showing some teeth. Climbing back from three break points down to win her first game of the second set at 0-4, the young Davis, currently ranked No.443 in the world, showed why she is a highly-touted prospect. But that was as far as she was able to go as Stosur went on to win the next two games, taking the set 6-1, and round off a comfortable victory. Australia's highest ranked player, Stosur said she felt for her teenage opponent. "It's not easy walking out not only your first Grand Slam but on centre court." "So, yeah, it wasn't an easy task for her. I tried to, again, right from the start play well so that she would feel that, because I wanted to get off to a good start and really set the tone for the match." Despite Davis' inexperience, the world No. 6 said she wasn't too concerned about the American's mental state. "For me I've got to go out there and focus on myself and what I want to do. You can't have anything like that pop into your head, because tennis is too easy to swing things around very quickly." The Aussie favourite is confident and calm coming into Australian Open 2011, having lost to Serena Williams in the fourth round last year, and believes that playing on home soil gives her an advantage. "It's a fantastic event. To be an Australian playing in your home Grand Slam, there is no better feeling." "I love playing out there and have the crowd behind me and the support. Like I say, it doesn't happen too often that you can play at home, so you've got to make the most of it when you can and really savor that experience." "I guess Australians are known for their chants, trying to get behind their players. So, again, that doesn't happen everywhere around the world that you get to play. I guess it helps maybe relax you a little bit.You know, you can take a few more seconds between points when they're rattling on with whatever they're doing. It's a good feeling out there."Sam rallies for relief
16 January 2011
Queenslander Sam Stosur has teamed up with some of the world’s best tennis players and thousands of tennis fans to raise $1.5 million and counting at the Rally for Relief at Rod Laver Arena. As the clean up continues across Queensland, the tennis family put on a special exhibition on the eve of Australian Open 2011 in aid of the thousands of families who have been affected by the flood crisis. Stosur was joined by Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Justine Henin, Caroline Wozniacki, Roger Federer, Pat Rafter, Andy Roddick, Andy Murray, Victoria Azarenka, Vera Zvonareva, Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters at the exhibition event. Unlike the matches that will be played at Rod Laver Arena over the following two weeks, players and fans didn’t mind who came out on top, today was all about entertainment and raising money for a cause close to Stosur’s heart. Stosur’s family home in Queensland was flooded when she was just three years old. With 15,000 fans packed into Rod Laver Arena and hundreds more watching on the big screen in Garden Square, the players put on a show that won’t be easily forgotten. It also showed the players’ lighter sides as they joked with each other throughout the exhibition. Undoubtedly the highlight was when Federer, Nadal, Stosur and Clijsters were called on court. World No.1 Nadal and No.3 Clijsters took on No.2 Federer and No.6 Stosur, much to the delight of the local fans. As the crowd watched on in awe, Stosur showed she can match it with the world No.1 as Nadal gave her a taste of his famous forehand. The Australian, who has pledged $500 for every ace she serves this summer, simply replied with some rockets of her own. By the end of the 90-minute exhibition, $750,000 had been raised by fans, the players, Tennis Australia, the ATP, WTA and the ITF. On top of this, Queensland Energy Resources CEO Pearce Bowman generously announced that QER will double the money raised over the next fortnight and urged everybody to give whatever they can to the appeal. Fans can still make a contribution online or by purchasing an item from the player auctions . Items include clothing worn and equipment used during Sunday’s Rally for Relief.Ready to break the ice
16 January 2011
Australian No.1 Sam Stosur says she's ready to break the ice and claim her maiden Grand Slam title at this year's Australian Open. Arriving at Melbourne Park firmly entrenched in the top 10 and with the experience of a French Open final under her belt, the 26-year old says she's better-placed than 12 months ago, when she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams in the fourth round. "I think I've definitely learned a lot, and experienced a lot more in the last 12 months, 18 months. I've definitely got a lot more used to the spot I'm in now, so hopefully that's going to put me in a good position for this year's tournament." And rather than feeling the weight of expectation from a country starved of success at its home Grand Slam, the No.5 seed says she's feeding off the attention. "The more time you get to experience this kind of attention and playing in front of these crowds, can only help you. Right from when I was a young kid, I wanted to be as high as I could be. And if this is what comes along with all that, then I think you've got to embrace it and enjoy it, because it could all be gone tomorrow. "At the end of the day, I think most people are wanting me to do well, so I think that's a really good position to be in." While Stosur is yet to advance beyond the fourth round at Melbourne Park, she arrives this year with the knowledge of what it takes to play deep into a Grand Slam tournament. "A lot of things have got to go right for you to win a Grand Slam, you've got to play extremely well, maybe get a bit lucky sometimes, and have all the pieces fall together. But there's a long way to go from the first round to winning the event." The Queenslander also congratulated fellow Australian Jarmila Groth for her win at the Moorilla Hobart International. "Any times Australians can do well - men or women - it's a boost. For Jarka to win Hobart, that's fantastic for her, and women's tennis in general. I think it's a really good warm-up, and she's had a great preparation for the event."Stosur gets to work in Melbourne
15 January 2011
Sam Stosur had her first hit at Rod Laver Arena today as the clock ticks down to the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. Going through her paces with coach Dave Taylor, Stosur looked relaxed as she worked on her ground strokes before practising some volleys. The Queenslander will face Lauren Davis in the first round of Australian Open 2011. Davis is a 17-year-old American who won the right to play in the Australian Open main draw after winning the USTA’s wildcard play-off event. This match will be Davis’s Grand Slam debut. In fact, she’s yet to feature in a WTA-level main draw. Despite her opponent’s lack of experience, Stosur will not be dropping her guard against her 443rd-ranked opponent. The No.5 seed in Melbourne, Stosur will enter the event as Australia’s best hope and only seeded player. But before the main draw, Stosur will warm up at the Rally for Relief on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena. Arena tickets have sold out, but fans can still purchase a ground pass for $10 and watch the exhibition match featuring Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters and others on the big screen. All proceeds will go to Queensland flood victims. Earlier this month Stosur pledged to donate $100 for every ace she serves during the Australian summer at the Brisbane International, Medibank International Sydney and the Australian Open. You can join Sam and get behind the Rally for Relief, make a donation online or purchase an item from the Rally for Relief eBay auction.Australian Open 2011
14 January 2011
17-30 Jan 2011
Melbourne, Australia
Surface: hard
www.australianopen.com
Singles No.5 seed
| Rd | Opponent | Result | W/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1r | [WC] L Davis (USA) | 6-1 6-1 | W |
| 2r | Vera Dushevina | 6-3 6-2 | W |
| 3r | Petra Kvitova | 7-6(5) 6-3 | L |
Sam announces Rally for Relief
13 January 2011
On Sunday 16 January Queenslander Sam Stosur will join forces with some of the biggest names in the game to raise funds for flood victims at the Rally for Relief to be held at Rod Laver Arena. Stosur will be joined by fellow players including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Lleyton Hewitt, Kim Clijsters and Pat Rafter in a special exhibition match for the benefit of Australians whose lives have been devastated by the recent floods. “A lot of us just want to make some sort of contribution,” said Stosur who helped to officially launch the Rally for Relief at the Medibank International Sydney today. “It breaks my heart to see what is happening to thousands of people in these floods. “I am rapt that the biggest names in our sport are so keen to focus on this despite the fact that the Australian Open starts the next day.” The tennis community has been shocked by the stories and vision that are coming out of Queensland. “Along with many of the other players I was moved by the devastation caused by the floods in Australia,” Federer said today. “We just wanted to do something to help aid the recovery because we know there are thousands of Australians who will continue to suffer as a result of this disaster.” “This is a terrible tragedy, not only the loss of life but the destruction of people’s homes,” Nadal said. I am pleased to be able to contribute in some way to help bring it to the attention of the world and raise some money for the victims in the process. Queenslanders Rafter and Stosur officially announced the Rally for Relief at the Medibank International Sydney as a key plank in a major fundraising campaign by the entire international tennis community “The plight of the flood victims has well and truly struck a chord with the entire tennis fraternity,” Rafter said. “As a Queenslander I am really heartened by the concern and the keenness from our sport to get in and do something to ease the suffering. I know on the scale of things our contribution is only a small one, but it is good to be able to help out.” Stosur is already donating $100 for every ace she served this summer. Players in lead-up events in Brisbane, Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth and Kooyong have all been inquiring as to how they can help the flood ravaged communities and pledging money and assistance. Tennis Australia will coordinate the tennis community’s fundraising effort, which will run throughout Australian Open 2011. The campaign includes:- Sunday afternoon’s Rally for Flood Relief
- a gold coin donation at Saturday’s Kids Tennis Day
- a special “Shirt off their backs” ongoing auction of autographed player apparel belonging to some of the biggest names in the sport
- an ATP and WTA pledge of $10 for every ace served by players at the Brisbane International, Medibank International Sydney, Moorilla International in Hobart and the Australian Open.
Site Information
- Tennis Australia
- tennis.com.au
- Australian Open
- Australian Open Series
- Brisbane International
- Medibank International
- Hobart International
- Player sites
- Jelena Dokic
- Casey Dellacqua
- Bernard Tomic