Update. Despite a tough draw hitting Sam Stosur this morning, the No.1 seed is welcoming the challenge, declaring whoever manages to get through the draw as the well-deserved champion.
Being the top seed didn’t save Stosur from the draw, falling in a top heavy half with Grand Slam champions Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Ana Ivanovic. But speaking today Stosur seemed relaxed about the tournament prospects, opting for a positive outlook on the draw.
“I guess if you’re going to win this tournament you’re going to have to play them at some point, so whoever ends up getting through is going to be in good form,” Stosur said.
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“Tough draw, but you’ve got to expect that with the types of players that are here playing this week, so the winner’s going to certainly have to work hard for it that’s for sure.”
Stosur will play her first round against Belarusian Anastasiya Yakimova, who she beat convincingly on carpet in 2005, but after a long off-season she’s keen to blow out the cobwebs and continue the devastating form that saw her win the US Open title.
“She’s been around a while and I’m sure [coach] David [Taylor] and I will talk about that more as we get out on court and practice later and tomorrow as well,” she said.
“When I think about what I’ve done since finishing the Championships to now, it does seem like a long time ago that we were playing and competing, so I’m definitely ready to start playing matches,”
> View draws and order of play
Despite not wanting to look too far ahead, the draw looms ominous for the Australian, with a likely second round against Czech Lucie Safarova—who ended Stosur’s Brisbane campaign in 2009—followed by a possible encounter with Clijsters, one of the few players she’s yet to beat.
But following her success in 2011, the 27-year-old is confident she can beat her demons this year with the experience and confidence from the US Open leaving her primed for anything thrown her way.
“Playing in an occasion like that and really getting through it as well as what you could ever hope for I guess proves that all the work you do leading up and all those previous experiences, whether they’re good or bad or you won or you lost, it all counted for something to get to that point,” she said.
“I think I know what I’ve got to do against her now it’s just a matter of doing it when it counts and then following through for the whole match. So, if I have to play Kim, I’ll worry about that when I need to.”
In a tournament organiser and spectators’ dreams, the semifinal would see Stosur face her US Open final opponent and 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams—an opportunity Sam would relish in her home town.
“It’d be great to play her again and this time it’d be on my turf in Brisbane,” she said.
Laughing at whether it’s meant to be, Stosur was sure to keep it in perspective.
“It’d be great for both of us to play a match like that and great for the spectators. Obviously everyone will pump it up and it’ll be great for the tournament,” she said.
“But we’ve both got to win a few matches to get there before that and with this field it’s going to be tough to get there, but hopefully we can.”
A Gold Coast local, the Brisbane International is the closest to home for Stosur and taking to centre court as the No.1 seed for the first time on Monday will be even more special in front of family and friends.
“I know family can come up and friends will be here so it’ll be nice to play in front of all them and hopefully they’ll enjoy the week as well,” she said.
Stosur will play her first round against Yakimova on Pat Rafter Arena on Monday night.