Stosur sets up meeting with Safina

Stosur sets up meeting with Safina

13 Mar 2011
samstosur.com

Fourth seed Sam Stosur has kicked off her Indian Wells singles’ campaign with a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 win over Spanish qualifier Laura Pous-Tio.

Stosur gave her less-experienced opponent few opportunities throughout the match, offering up just two break-point chances, of which the Spaniard managed to convert one.

The Australian was able to penetrate Pous-Tio’s serve more regularly. On 11 occasions Stosur had an opportunity to break serve, which she managed to do five times to effect a relatively straightforward win in just over 66 minutes.

The win sets up a third-round match with former No.1 Dinara Safina. Currently ranked 108, the one-time Russian powerhouse is working to restore her ranking and standing as one of the most formidable players on the WTA Tour.

The Russian’s straight-sets win over dual Indian Wells champ and 26th seed Daniela Hantuchova marks just the second time in 2011 that Safina has passed the first round of a tournament.

Stosur and Safina have met on four occasions with the Russian holding a decisive 3-1 lead in the head-to-head count. Stosur, however, won their last meeting in 2009 when Safina was the No.2 player in the world.

The Queenslander’s next outing will be on Sunday when Stosur and doubles partner Francesca Schiavone take on sixth seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko. Stosur and Schiavone are the third match on Court 8, with matches beginning at 11 am Indian Wells’ time.

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  • Rena_Egypt

    Wohoo great win Sam,great way to start the tournament :). Prepare for next match and keep it up!

  • Pam, Maryland, USA

    Sam, great job. Stay aggressive you can do it. Remember you are rank no. 4 in the world. Go For It.!!!

    Pam, Maryland, USA

  • Anonymous

    Wow ! A solid winning in second round :D , and there is an another former world No.1 player to meet , Sam , I think you know what to do , just go for it ~ .

  • Drine

    Brilliant start Sam, way to go!!! Next round promises to be very interesting against Dinara, who’s coming back in form these days ;)
    Have fun on the court and good luck Sammy :))

  • Sue Saccardi

    Good luck against Safina.

  • Chinchilla93

    Hi Samantha
    I can’t wait to see you!! In less then a couple weeks in SC!!
    Can you beat Safina for me?
    See you in charleston !!
    Jillie

  • Ai

    Hi Sam,you had a good start! Good luck with your next round!
    As you already know, we had some strong earthquakes and a massive tsunami in northan Japan on Friday.I’ve never experienced such a big quake here in Tokyo.Things were shaking so much…books,CDs,Agassi’s poster,and my picture taken with you fell down. I was so scared.ooh..I feel litte quake right now….The damage of the disaster is enornous :( …I hope we will come back soon.
    Good luck and enjoy your tennis :)

  • SamFan

    very nice game and even more important a victory! Next one up is Dinara Safina. Let me think…… Didn’t she played agianst Kim Clijsters in the 1st round of the Australian Open? Should be a easy game, given the fact that Dinara isn’t half as good as she used to play. So good luck…..

  • Jef (from France)

    Hi Sam :)
    It’s allways a good thing to begin with a quick win, and so you did :)
    It will be 3 AM here when your next match begins, and you can be sure I’ll be there, shouting as loud as I can “GO, Sammy, Go, Go ! :) ”
    cheers,
    jf

  • Davidmb47

    I’d never watched a world-class tennis competitor play from courtside before, until seeing the doubles match March 10, S Stosur (AUS)/F Schiavone (ITA) vs. S Errani (ITA) / R Vinci. I was riveted from the start. Ms. Stosur is a tremendous athlete.
    – David Michael

  • Jessica

    Wishing you great fun and successful times there in Indian Wells! Go Sam Go!

  • Madison

    really? seriously? what happend? you started the tourney off so well and then you blow a match like that! it was very hard to watch… dust yourself off and go get them in the next tourney! good luck!

  • Jef (from France)

    Hi Sammy :)
    Too bad you lose today against Safina :( . You were not 100% today, and several balls were just out wich would have been in if you had been 100% . But I enjoyed seeing you fighting, trying different things when it didn’t work. And I have to say Safina played a great tennis today, especially the important points. The loss of the tie-break didn’t help you to stay confident. And you gave us some great shots and wonderful volleys :) … a few more would have changed the result ;)
    Nothing to be ashamed of, Sammy, you did your best and, as always, your behavior was just perfect. I know you are desappointed, and so am I, because I’ll have to wait a little to see you play again, but I don’t regret my “white night” ( do you say that in english ? ;) ), because, until the very last point, I thought you would win :) –
    And, one last thing : the public was….shy, today :( They should have shouted louder !!
    I’m with you, Sam, always on your side, because you are wonderful, you are a great champion, I love your game and…I love your smile……this smile that, no doubt, I’ll see next time :)
    Come on, Sam, come on :)
    cheers :)
    jf

  • West

    Ms Stosur: I enjoy watch ur game very very much. I hope ur healthy. As a 60+ handicapped old Coach u have a similar game to Feder’s of 6yrs ago. Which means that he hit hard forhand and people picked on is not so strong bachand. Latterhe thanked people for playing his bachand so much because of the improvement in it. A litle like ur playing style today. I enjoy the way u step into ur hard slice bachand. But,wish u would bend ur knees’ more & lower; and from ur 2 hander step forward from this lower 2handed position, to get both more lift & speed on that 2handed backhand. Well,,,Please take care of ur self and play steady; and keep working on those backhand shots. Take care and Best Wishes. Thank you for reading this.

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