WHAT HAPPENED: In a match full of momentum shifts, 2011 US Open champion and current No. 22 seed Samantha Stosur regrouped strongly after a mid-match dip in form to defeat No. 16 seed Sara Errani in the third round, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
Stosur raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opening set with a series of forehand winners and it appeared that it might be a short day for Errani. However, the Italian regrouped and began to track down shots that would be winners against most players, goading Stosur into errors. She raced to a 4-3 lead and had game points for 5-3, but Errani began to get tight on her serve and allowed Stosur back into the match. Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, some of Errani’s serves were so slow that they didn’t even registered on the radar gun. Stosur took full advantage, walloping two straight forehand winners to take the opening set.
But just as Stosur gained the momentum, she lost it just as quickly. The notoriously defensive Errani shocked Stosur with a series of successful serve-and-volley attempts and aggressive forehands that took the Australian out of her rhythm. Errani jumped out to a 3-0 lead before comfortably wrapping up the set.
Momentum shifted in the third set once again and the remainder of the match was one-way traffic for Stosur. She grabbed an early break of serve to lead 2-0 and raced through the remainder of the contest, comfortably closing things out on her serve at 5-1 to move into the second week.
WHAT IT MEANS: With this win, Stosur has advanced to the second week of the US Open for the first time since 2012. The always-popular Australian appears to be hitting her shots with more confidence and getting a higher percentage of first serves in than her previous hard-court events this summer, a development that spells trouble for everyone remaining in the draw.
Stosur now plays the winner of the match between No. 26 seed Flavia Pennetta and Petra Cetkovska. Perhaps surprisingly, Pennetta has won all six of their previous career meetings, all of which took place on hard courts. Stosur has a more flattering 2-0 record against Cetkovska and has yet to drop a set against her. It simply can’t be ignored that Stosur is a former US Open champion, though, and she’s capable of beating anyone in the draw when she’s playing her very best tennis.
THE QUESTION: How far do you think Stosur will advance at this year’s US Open?
