Local favorite Samantha Stosur expressed her eagerness for competing on home soil when she thrilled her country with the US Open title in September, but the moment the time came for the Australian to shine in the January’s sun down under, the nerves crept in and after losing in the second round of Brisbane and the first round of Sydney, Stosur put the icing on the cake of disappointment by crashing out in the first round of the Australian Open.
Spraying 33 unforced errors, the world No.6 Stosur fell to Sorana Cirstea 7-6(2) 6-3, the player to whom she hadn’t lost more than three games per set in their previous two encounters. This time the 59th-ranked Cirstea had nothing to lose and put out her aggressive side against the stiff Stosur who was falling under her own pressure. In the end Stosur did save three match points, but she was far too emotional to turn the situation to her advantage.
“It’s hard to suppress those emotions when it means so much to you,” said Stosur after becoming the first big casualty of the tournament.
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The pressure was on her not on the Romanian player. Playing in front of the home supporters that expect to see you in the upper stages of the tournament, puts up a lot of pressure and she could not manage that.
Yes, she is strangely un Aussie like in her vulnerability but it adds to her charm. She has come back from something far more important before which threatened her whole health so she will come back from this
You always expect Australian sportsmen and women to be strong mentally. It is a shame Sam has not got this quality. I like the way she plays.