Sam Stosur

Bio

Sam’s story
Sam took up tennis at the age of eight after a friend gave her a tennis racquet for Christmas. She used to hit at the local courts with her brother, Daniel. He soon realised she had above-average ability and convinced their parents, Diane and Tony, to give Sam coaching lessons.

She went away on her first overseas trip at the age of 13, competing in the World Youth Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.

At 14 she joined the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) under Geoff Masters and in 2001 ,when she was 16, Sam joined the Australian Institute of Sport’s tennis program.

She formed a successful coaching partnership with Craig Morris, travelling together on the WTA Tour. Craig has played a huge role in Sam’s tennis, both on the court and off. He remains a close personal friend.

Sam’s break came at the Australian Open in 2006 when she reached the fourth round – her best singles result at a Grand Slam tournament up until that point. Solid results took her to a then career-high No.27 in January 2007.

She has had great success in doubles, rising to world No.1 in February 2006 after claiming a series of titles. With her doubles partner Lisa Raymond, they won the US Open in 2005, were runners up at the 2006 Australian Open and won the French Open.

In 2007, this consistently successful pair won five titles and made it to the semis at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Sam won her maiden Grand Slam mixed doubles crown at the Australian Open in 2005 with fellow Queenslander Scott Draper and her second at Wimbledon 2008 with Bob Bryan.

But it was in 2009 when Sam truly came into her own in the singles arena. The year began with a third-round appearance at the Australian Open, was highlighted by a semifinals berth at the French Open – Sam’s best effort at a Grand Slam to date – and culminated with her maiden singles title in Osaka.

Other highlights included quarterfinals berths at Miami and Toronto, a semifinals appearance at Stanford, and a final at Los Angeles.

In 2009 Sam became renowned for her serve, which is now considered one of the best on the women’s tour, while her year-end ranking of No.13 is within touching distance of the top 10.

On the doubles court, Sam paired with Fed Cup teammate Rennae Stubbs to make the final at Wimbledon, Eastbourne and Toronto, the semis at the US Open, Dubai, Madrid and the Tour Championships in Qatar, and the quarters at Miami.

She has been a member of the Optus Australian Fed Cup team since 2003 and is coached by the team’s captain, David Taylor.

In her down time, Sam likes going to the beach, hanging out with friends, surfing and listening to music.

Recently Sam spent some time with the Australian Women’s Weekly doing a photo shoot. The story appeared in the October 2009 issue with Sam pictured in off-court clothing – a sight many fans would not have had the opportunity to see.

Special thanks to Scott from United Hair Artists at Arundel on the Gold Coast for getting Sam’s hair ready for the shoot.

The facts

Born: 30 March 1984
Birthplace: Brisbane, Australia
Lives: Tampa, Florida
Star sign: Aries

Weight: 65 kg
Height: 175 cm
Plays: Right-handed
Coach: David Taylor
Family: Mother, Diane, father Tony, brothers Dominic and Daniel.

A few of Sam’s favourite things

Aussie Rules football team: St Kilda
NRL (rugby) football team: Gold Coast Titans

Home-cooked meal: Mother Diane’s rack of lamb with mint sauce, mashed potatoes and roast vegetables.
Actor: Hugh Grant
Colour: Blue
TV shows:
Ugly Betty
Grey’s Anatomy
Law & Order SVU
Law & Order
Brothers and Sisters
Weeds
Hobbies: surfing and Sudoku
Movies: Notting Hill, Love Actually, Anchorman
People: Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf
Author: James Patterson
Media: Who, People, OK, Star
Music
Paolo Nutini (New Shoes)
Missy Higgins (Sound of White)
Rascal Flatts (Me And My Gang)
Joni Mitchell (Songs chosen by her friends)
Gavin DeGraw (Chariot)
INXS (Switch)
Rob Thomas (Something To Be)
Ben Lee (Awake Is The New Sleep)
Bernard Fanning (Tea And Sympathy)
Robbie Williams (Intensive Care)
Sheryl Crow (Wild Flower)
James Blunt (Back To Bedlam)
Anouk (Hotel New York)
James Morrison

Career Highlights

Singles

Winner (1)

2009
Osaka

2001
ITF/Ibaraki, Japan
ITF/Osaka, Japan
ITF/Kyoto, Japan
ITF/Cairns, Australia

Finalist (4)

2009 Los Angeles
2006 Prague
2005 Gold Coast, Sydney

Semifinalist (4)
2009 Stanford; 2008 Eastbourne; 2006 New Haven; 2004 Gold Coast

Quarterfinalist (12)
2009 Miami, Toronto; 2008 Stanford; 2007 Gold Coast, Tokyo, Memphis; 2006 Tokyo, Stanford, Linz; 2005 Hasselt; 2004 Acapulco, Seoul.

Doubles

Winner (22)

2007 Tokyo, Indian Wells, Miami, Berlin, Eastbourne (all w/Lisa Raymond) 2006 Tokyo, Memphis, Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Roland Garros, Stuttgart, Linz, Hasselt, Tour Championships (all w/Lisa Raymond)
2005 Sydney, Amelia Island (both w/Bryanne Stewart), New Haven, US Open, Luxembourg, Moscow, Tour Championships (all w/Lisa Raymond)
2002 ITF/Bendigo-AUS, ITF/Warrnambool-AUS, ITF/Bath-GBR, ITF/Dalby-AUS (all w/Sarah Stone), ITF/Lenzerheide-SUI (w/Nicole Sewell)
2001 ITF/Benalla-AUS (w/Monique Adamczak), ITF/Ibaraki-JPN, ITF/Osaka-JPN, ITF/Kyoto-JPN (all w/Melissa Dowse), ITF/Nuriootpa-AUS, ITF/Mount Gambier-AUS (both w/Evie Dominikovic)

Finalist (5)
2009 Wimbledon, Eastbourne, Toronto ( all w/Rennae Stubbs)
2008 Wimbledon (w/Lisa Raymond)
2006 Australian Open, New Haven (both w/Lisa Raymond)
2005 Philadelphia (w/Lisa Raymond)
2004 Québec City (w/Els Callens).

Mixed Doubles
Winner (2)
2008 Wimbledon (w/Bob Bryan)
2005 Australian Open (w/Scott Draper)

Representation
Australian Fed Cup Team 2003-05, 2007, 2009
Australian Olympic Team 2004, 2008

Awards
2005 Stars for Stars Doubles Team of the Year (w/Lisa Raymond)
2005 ITF World Women’s Doubles Champions (w/Lisa Raymond)
2006 Stars for Stars Doubles Team of the Year (w/Lisa Raymond)

2009 results

January: 3r Australian Open; 2r Brisbane; 1r Sydney Doubles: 3r Australian Open; 1r Sydney (w/Rennae Stubbs)
February: 2r Dubai Doubles: SF Dubai
March: QF Miami; 2r Indian Wells Doubles: QF Miami; 2r Indian Wells
April: 1r Pont Vedre Beach
May: SF French Open; 2r Madrid; 1r Rome Doubles: SF Madrid; 3r French Open; 2r Rome
June: 3r Wimbledon; 2r Eastbourne Doubles: R/U Wimbledon, Eastbourne
July: SF Stanford
August: R/U Los Angeles; QF Toronto; 2r New Haven, US Open Doubles: R/U Toronto; SF US Open; QF Los Angeles
September: 2r Tokyo Doubles: 1r Tokyo
October: Won Osaka; 1r Beijing Doubles: SF Tour Championships; 2r Beijing
November: 2r Bali

Grand Slam history

Year-end singles ranking history