Local favourite and world No.6 Sam Stosur begins her long-awaited summer campaign today at Pat Rafter Arena when she takes on qualifier Lucie Hradecka. But how is she coping with the pressure of being Australia’s No.1 and greatest hope of being the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win a major?
Stosur is looking fitter than ever (if that’s possible), has been practising up a storm in Brisbane and, importantly, she says she’s not feeling the pressure of being Australian tennis’s great hope.
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“Yes there’s going to be a bit more attention and spotlight on me, hopefully I can handle it well. At the end of the day I’d rather have lots of people cheering for me than against me [and] I think I can use it to my advantage,” Stosur said earlier this week at Pat Rafter Arena.
“I think, really, the last couple of years I’ve found the way I want to play, so I’m going to stick to that.”
And clearly it’s working. In 2010 Stosur started the year outside the top 10, breached the top 5 in July, won her second title (Charleston) and made it to the final at Roland Garros.
With 2011 upon us the current world No.6 says she’s comfortable with her place inside the world’s top 10 and, not only that, she feels like she belongs.
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“It was a goal of mine for a little while to try and get there [top 10] and once I did get there I felt like I belonged there, so it wasn’t, in my own head, a big suprise.
“It’s been great being there [in the top 10] for almost a year so hopefully I can hold it for a little while longer.”
Stosur’s first chance to make her move up the rankings in 2011 comes this week in Brisbane where she hasn’t played since 2009 when she made it to the second round. The top seed here this week, she’ll face world No.110 Hradecka in the second match of the day session at Brisbane’s Pat Rafter Arena.
“It’s a nice feeling, so hopefully I can live up to that seeding and I’ll be able to play a few matches here. I’m really looking forward to being back here.”
While Stosur is happy to be home, there are 31 players who will be hoping they don’t have to face the Queenslander with the thunderous forehand.
“I think she’s playing well, she had a really good year last year … She’s one of the best players now on the tour, she’s playing well,” world No.13 Shahar Peer told reporters.
Stosur’s transformation from world No.1 doubles player to top 10 singles player didn’t just happen.
The Australian’s detailed approach to training and her dedication to preparing thoroughly for each tournament is what has propelled her into the world’s elite.
In the past month she has been improving her fitness with coach Dave Taylor and, more recently, has been working hard on court. With just a couple of days off for Christmas, it’s been full speed ahead in preparation for the Australian summer, including the Australian Open.
“Who knows if and when it’s [winning a major] going to happen, but the next one’s only a few weeks away and I’m going to try and do my best there for sure and having made the final of the French Open it definitely lets me believe more that is possible.
“I think anyone with my kind of ranking should expect that they can do it and I think if you don’t it’s kind of silly.
“Having said that there’s still tonnes of good players out there and you’ve got to be on your game every single match. Grand Slams are extremely tough as is every other tournament – you can’t take anyone lightly but I’d like to think I’ve got a chance.”
Tickets are still available for Brisbane International 2011 from Ticketek.