Samantha Stosur has put Australian tennis back on the map by winning the US Open last year, but it has come at a cost to her performances at home. But that cost may be the motivation she needs to storm her way to the Dubai title when play begins in less than a week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
In overcoming Serena Williams in New York last September, she became the first woman Grand Slam winner from ‘down under’ since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbledon in 1980. Stosur’s hard-fought victory followed her run to the French Open final in 2010 and confirmed her as one of the biggest talents in the game.
Sam was understandably thrilled with her triumph, “I can't even describe it,” she said. “I guess it's a little bit overwhelming, because it's something I've always wanted to try and achieve. You never know if it's going to happen if you're thinking about it when you're 10 or 11 years old. “I have had the pleasure of meeting Evonne. She was Fed Cup captain years ago. To have my name up against those women is quite amazing.”
Her success was all the more remarkable as it followed a long spell when she was unable to play the game at all. After a period of poor results in 2007 she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, an illness that causes fever, headaches and fatigue, and she was forced off the tour for a frustrating and worrying seven months during which she was unsure whether she would be able to play again at the top level.
In fact she came back stronger than ever. Already acclaimed as a world number one in doubles, she dedicated herself to singles with great success, reaching the top 10 for the first time in March 2010 and eventually rising to number four. Winner of two Grand Slam doubles titles and two more in mixed doubles, Stosur proved last year she had retained her skills on the doubles court when she teamed with Sabine Lisicki to reach the 2011 Wimbledon final.
“Samantha Stosur has earned respect throughout the tennis world for the way she fought her way back after her dreadful illness,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Tournament Owners and organisers Dubai Duty Free. “Since then she has made tremendous strides and is a strong contender for the title wherever she plays. We wish her well in Dubai.”
While Stosur has been able to continue her winning form overseas since the US Open victory, her performances at home have suffered under the weight of expectation of the sports mad Australian crowd, eager to have another tennis champion to call their own. It's been a long time since the halcyon days of the 60s and 70s when Australia dominated the tennis world, and while it has since produced world number ones Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt and top ten players Jelena Dokic and Alicia Molik, it's been a long time between Grand Slams for the women.
When Stosur won the US Open last year it is safe to say the country went wild, but with that support came enormous pressure to maintain her winning form and not disappoint a nation. Unfortunately her run in Australia this year has been less than impressive, with early round losses in the Brisbane and Sydney Internationals, before being bundled out of the Australian Open in the first round.
But that bitter disappointment may prove to be a bonus for the Dubai tournament.
Tournament Director Salah Tahlak said: “Sam Stosur has proven she is not intimidated by the big name players after beating Serena Williams in front of her home crowd at the US Open, so other players would be wise not to underestimate her.”
“Sam has proven that she could easily provide the upset of the tournament, and with the added motivation to avenge her recent losses she is a hot prospect for the Dubai title,” he added.
Stosur is part of a stellar cast that features eight of the world’s top 10, including world number one and Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka, defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, French Open winner Li Na, and two-time Grand Slam finalist Vera Zvonareva.
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Play begins on February 20 with the WTA Tour event, and continues on February 27 with the ATP tournament that features defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic, former four-time champion Roger Federer, 2012 Brisbane champion Andy Murray and the charismatic Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tickets for the event are available from the Box Office at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, Garhoud which opens from 9am to 9pm daily. Grandstand tickets can also be bought online at https://www.timeouttickets.com/. For further information about tickets, prices and tournaments visit https://www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/ or phone the call centre on +971 4 358 9797.