Samantha Stosur has always been happy to take a less high-profile approach during tournaments. But even the low-key Aussie and 2011 US Open champion has had to laugh at how much she’s been flying under the radar during the first week of this year’s tournament.
During her first-round against Timea Babos, the scoreboard accidentally listed her as “Samantha Stososova” for part of the match. But if she maintains level of tennis she has shown so far this tournament, it’s a safe bet her name will once again adorn the marquee.
The No. 19 seed comfortably won her first two matches, and in the third round she snapped a two-match losing streak to Sara Errani, brilliantly recovering from a mid-match dip in form to advance into the fourth round, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.
“It certainly helps knowing that you have played some of your best tennis of your career over a two-week period on these courts and these conditions,” said Stosur. “Winning a Grand Slam is not easy, but knowing that you have actually done that certainly gives you confidence. It’s a nice thing to feed off.”
Although Stosur has had plenty of highlights in a career that includes eight WTA singles titles, reaching the No. 1 ranking in doubles and winning five Grand Slam doubles titles, her highlight is undoubtedly winning the 2011 US Open. Her 6-2, 6-3 victory over Serena Williams in the championship remains one of the biggest upsets of all time in a Grand Slam final – and also Serena's last loss in Flushing Meadows.
“Every year I've come back it kind of sinks into your head,” said Stosur. “You walk through the corridor and you see your picture and you have a little smile. It's always a nice feeling to come back to this place where I have obviously had great success.”
Finding her top form this summer couldn’t have come at a better time, because the first half of the 2015 season was largely disappointing. She had a losing record going into the French Open and dropped out of the Top 25 in the WTA rankings for the first time in six years.
But having won two tour titles since then and getting far more matches under her belt appears to have bolstered Stosur’s confidence. And while it may not have helped her land at the top of the list of tournament favorites, not being the primary topic of conversation is exactly where Stosur wants to be.
“I think it just gives you that feeling you’ve got nothing to lose and you can go out swinging,” said Stosur. “Sometimes that’s the best situation to be in.”
