Samantha Stosur Archives - Women's Tennis Blog

Samantha Stosur to call it a career after 2023 Australian Open

Samantha Stosur has announced that the 2023 Australian Open will be the last tournament in her professional tennis career.

The 38-year-old Stosur made a tough decision to retire after her 21st Australian Open. This fortnight in Melbourne, Stosur plays the women’s doubles alongside France’s Alize Cornet and mixed doubles alongside compatriot Matt Ebden.

The winner over Serena Williams in the 2011 US Open women’s singles final announced the news in a lengthy message on Instagram, revealing that she will definitely miss competitive tennis:

Even though I’ve made the decision to retire from the sport I absolutely love, a small part of me would be happy to keep playing forever.

Sam Stosur of Australia & Zhang Shuai of China during the trophy ceremony after the doubles final at the 2021 Western & Southern Open WTA 1000 tennis tournament

Besides her Grand Slam singles title in New York, the former doubles world No.1 Stosur has won seven major titles in doubles (four in women’s doubles and three in the mixed competition). The former singles world No.4 was also a force on the Parisian clay, as she played the Roland Garros singles semifinals four times, in 2010 advancing to the championship match.

The Australian’s heart is full that she’s ending her career in front of a home crowd:

I feel so happy and grateful to have the opportunity to finish playing at my favorite slam – my home slam – in front of my Aussie fans, friends and family.

Stosur became a mom in 2020, when her partner Liz gave birth to a baby girl Evie. (photo: Jimmie48)

January 15, 2023

In photos: WTA players practice for the 2022 Australian Open

Photographer Jimmie48 is among early birds at the 2022 Australian Open, so we already have plenty of photos of WTA players preparing for the Grand Slam which starts on January 17. Let’s see who was spotted practicing on Saturday.

Two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist Elina Svitolina always has the coolest practice t-shirts. On Saturday, the Ukrainian sported a white tee featuring a koala that wears a Nike headband and hangs onto a tennis racquet.

Amanda Anisimova of the United States started the year by winning a WTA 250 warm-up event in Melbourne, her first title since 2019. The WTA world No.61 is now on a coaching trial with Darren Cahill, the former long-term coach of Simona Halep. We could see them working together on Saturday, although in a recent interview Anisimova questioned whether the coach would have enough time to practice with her due to his TV commentary obligations.

Australia’s Samantha Stosur is preparing for her last tournament as a singles player. The 2011 US Open singles champion could play her final singles match on Tuesday against American wildcard Robin Anderson.

Belinda Bencic, who has recently recovered from COVID-19, played the quarterfinals of the Sydney Tennis Classic this week, where she lost to eventual champion Paula Badosa, and is now awaiting a meeting with Kristina Mladenovic in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday.

Emma Raducanu is making a main-draw debut at the Australian Open and is seeded at a Grand Slam for the first time.

The Brit is one of seven teenagers in the women’s singles draw at the 2022 Australian Open. Can Raducanu repeat her US Open success in Melbourne?

Another teenager and Australian Open main-draw debutante is Denmark’s Clara Tauson. Our guest blogger Yaseen Hijazi recently explained that “Clara Tauson has the whole package to be a Grand Slam winner”. What we can notice is her new apparel sponsor — Adidas believes in her. Last year she was sponsored by Yonex.

Tauson’s practice partner on Saturday was Camila Osorio of Colombia. The 20-year-old is also making her main-draw debut in Melbourne, against none other than defending champion Naomi Osaka.

The 2019 Australian Open runner-up Petra Kvitova is smiling, as always.

Maria Sakkari has risen 15 ranking spots since last year’s Australian Open.

Last but not least, world No.1 Ashleigh Barty was also spotted practicing for the Australian Open. We can see her wearing the red Axilus 2 Energized tennis shoes from Fila’s Foul Line collection.

January 15, 2022

Samantha Stosur and her partner welcome a baby girl

The WTA community has a new member — Australian Samantha Stosur and her partner Liz announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Genevieve. The 2011 US Open champion shared the happy news on Instagram, showing us two photos of her lovely family of three.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCk1_ggFoq9/

Even though Stosur, a former singles world No.4 and doubles world No.1, broke the news on Monday, she’s been a mom for a month already, as her partner gave birth to the baby girl in mid-June:

Life in lockdown during coronavirus has been challenging in many ways but personally it’s been one of the most exciting and happy times of my life. On the 16th of June, my partner Liz gave birth to our beautiful little girl, Genevieve. It has been a whirlwind time but we could not imagine life without her now.

Mum and Evie are doing well and it’s so amazing to be home with them both. We are absolutely in love with this little bundle and rolling with the happy chaos. We can’t wait for what’s to come and to watch little Evie grow up….Although not too quickly we hope!

Among the first colleagues to congratulate the 36-year-old Stosur on Instagram were Casey Dellacqua and Kim Clijters, both moms of three children.

July 13, 2020

Brisbane PHOTOS: Stosur, Collins, Strycova upset Top 20 players

Main-draw play began at the 2020 Brisbane International on Monday and we already have a Top 10 upset, as American Danielle Collins sent packing fourth seed Elina Svitolina in just 56 minutes. Top 20 players Angelique Kerber and Johanna Konta were also eliminated in the first round, losing to Samantha Stosur of Australia and Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic respectively.

Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic officially debuted her K-Swiss partnership, sporting a blue and black colorblock outfit during a victory over compatriot Priscilla Hon. Talking about tennis apparel, notice qualifier Veronika Kudermetova wearing EA7 — I don’t remember ever seeing a player in the Armani label, do you?

Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova and Maria Sakkari were caught practicing, while Ashleigh Barty‘s routine involved cricket!

Our Jimmie48 also photographed two first-round doubles matches: the victory of Karolina Pliskova and Donna Vekic over Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Latisha and the win of Ashleigh Barty and Kiki Bertens over Anett Kontaveit and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

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January 6, 2020

Collins shocks Svitolina, Kerber & Konta also fall at the Brisbane International

American Danielle Collins needed just 56 minutes to beat Ukrainian fourth seed Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-1 in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday, recording the first upset of a Top 10 player in 2020. Angelique Kerber and Johanna Konta are two more big-name casualties in the Premier-tournament’s opening round.

Wearing New Balance’s Spring 2020 collection, the 27th-ranked Collins dominated every facet of the first-round match, as the 2018 Brisbane champion Svitolina won just 38% and 39% of points behind her first and second serves respectively, whilst converting none of her four break point opportunities.

Australian wildcard Samantha Stosur upset fellow former Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in two tight sets, 7-6(5) 7-6(4), finally not underperforming in front of home crowd. The world No.98 Stosur, once ranked fourth in the world, employed effective tactics by her new coach and good friend Rennae Stubbs:

She knows all the players, her tactical awareness and everything about the players is excellent. That was something last year when I was going through without a coach, I found hard to do that day after day.

Barbora Strycova dominated the opener against seventh seed Johanna Konta, and despite losing the second set, the Czech eventually prevailed 6-2 3-6 6-3. This is Konta’s third straight loss to the world No.31 Strycova.

January 6, 2020

Brisbane PHOTOS: WTA players bring cheerful smiles to the All-Access Hour

The second round of qualifying marked tennis action at the 2020 Brisbane International on Sunday, but our photographer Jimmie48 spent the day with top players, some of whom wandered around the city, while others chatted with the media during the All-Access Hour.

Naomi Osaka talked about her off-season to the WTA’s Courtney Nguyen: how she met Beyoncé, how she almost died paddleboarding with her sister in the Turks and Caicos, and how she fully embraced the less-work attitude, having not played almost entire November for the first time ever.

It’s wonderful that the WTA players are entering the season with bright smiles. Just go through the gallery, everyone’s face is glowing. We also have photos of some practice sessions, including Elina Svitolina, Karolina Pliskova, Anett Kontaveit and Ashleigh Barty.

Ajla Tomljanovic, Donna Vekic, Maria Sakkari and Anett Kontaveit used their free time on Sunday to explore Brisbane’s South Bank. Did they like each other’s company? Just have a look at the photos.

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January 5, 2020

Brisbane PHOTOS: New coaching partnerships take the courts

Friday was another warm-up day at the Brisbane International, as players are getting ready for the tournament’s start on January 6th. Our photographer Jimmie48 attended a lot of practice sessions highlighted by new coaching partnerships.

Naomi Osaka was spotted on the court with Wim Fissette, Dayana Yastremska was with Sascha Bajin, Angelique Kerber was training with newly-appointed coach Dieter Kindlmann, and Karolina Pliskova was getting ready with a relatively new member of her team, Olga Savchuk.

Moreover, Karolina Pliskova and Donna Vekic enjoyed a fun joint practice, preparing for their doubles partnership at the Brisbane International. We also have Friday’s practice photos of Maria Sharapova, Johanna Konta, Kiki Bertens, and Ajla Tomljanovic.

When it comes to off-court activities, Tomljanovic met the ball kids, Vekic was signing autographs and Samantha Stosur talked to the media about her decision to donate towards the bushfire relief this week.

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Thursday, January 2nd: Osaka arrives by helicopter; Barty, Sharapova, Vekic grind on practice courts

January 3, 2020

Halep, Wozniacki impress in Eastbourne, Stephens out

Tuesday was a super busy day at the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne with plenty of first-round and second-round matches, while some players even had to play two singles matches one after the other.

Sixth seed Simona Halep raced into the third round with a 6-2 6-0 victory over Hsieh Su-Wei in just 53 minutes. After saving a break point in her first service game, Halep confidently marched through the rest of the match, serving at 71% and making most of her opponent’s drop shots unsuccessful. The Romanian is also in the doubles draw this time, partnered with compatriot Raluca Olaru, and their first-round upset of top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Xu Yifan really helped the former singles No.1 get into the groove on grass.

Caroline Wozniacki, seeded 11th, beat Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-4 in a high-quality second-round match that included a total of 43 winners to just 14 unforced errors, with the winner’s differential being +22 and her opponent’s +7.

Jelena Ostapenko recorded her biggest victory of the season by winning a lopsided encounter with seventh seed Sloane Stephens, 1-6 6-0 6-3 in the second round. The Latvian hit as many as 14 double faults, eight of which came in the first set, while her American opponent hit just two.

The highest seed to fall in Eastbourne on Tuesday was No.5 Elina Svitolina, whose 6-3 7-6(3) second-round loss to Alize Cornet is her sixth defeat in her last seven matches. The last time the Ukrainian won multiple matches in a row was her run to the semifinals of Indian Wells in March.

Tenth seed Belinda Bencic lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-7(6) 6-2 6-3 in the second round, but we have to take into account that the Swiss played her first-round match against Veronika Kudermetova earlier on Tuesday, just two days after playing the final of the Mallorca Open.

Mallorca Open champion Sofia Kenin fell to qualifier Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-3 in the first round, while Stosur later in the day lost to fourth seed Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-4.

All this and more our Jimmie48 captured in photos.

Visit Women’s Tennis Blog tomorrow as we’ll have more photos from Eastbourne. Note that Wednesday’s schedule includes a repeat of last year’s final — a third-round match-up between Caroline Wozniacki and Aryna Sabalenka.

June 26, 2019

Top 5 qualifying seeds out in the first round as big names warm up for Madrid Open

Seeds were falling like rotten apples in the first round of qualifying at the Mutua Madrid Open, while high-ranked WTA players enjoyed a slow day getting accustomed to the environment in the Spanish capital.

Top qualifying seed Amanda Anisimova was bageled twice in her three-set loss to Marta Kostyuk and we have photos from that match. No.2 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, No.3 Tatjana Maria, No.4 Monica Puig, and No.5 Aleksandra Krunic all fell in straight sets. The highest seed to make it through the first round of qualifying was No.6 Kristina Mladenovic, who beat Ivana Jorovic, one of three representatives of Serbia on the day, all of whom lost.

Meanwhile, top names were chilling, talking to the media and practicing. Our photographer Jimmie48 attended the joint practice session of Elina Svitolina and Caroline Garcia, as well as the All-Access Hour where he caught up with Simona Halep, defending champion Petra Kvitova, who is coming straight from her Stuttgart trophy run, newly-engaged Sloane Stephens, Kiki Bertens, and Karolina Pliskova, who has confirmed that Conchita Martinez is now her full-time coach, while she no longer works with Rennae Stubbs.

After skipping the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix because of a left hip injury, Halep is confident in her health again, although she does have mild cold symptoms: “I recharged my batteries and I feel ready to start the clay court season. I’m a little bit sick, a cold from the plane. But I think I will be OK in two days.”

By the way, Petkovic and Mladenovic are looking fabulous in new Adidas’ Escouade collection, which made my April’s fashion favorites. To vote for your last month’s favorite styles, visit my latest article at the WTA website.

May 3, 2019

Miami Open PHOTOS: Halep, Pliskova complete semifinal field

Simona Halep is now just one match away from reclaiming the WTA world No.1 ranking and that one obstacle will be Karolina Pliskova in the Miami Open semifinals.

The second-seeded Halep won six consecutive games from 1-5 in the second set to overcome China’s Wang Qiang 6-4 7-5 and make the final four at the Premier Mandatory tournament. Czech Pliskova, seeded fifth, advanced by beating compatriot Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-4.

Judging by the stats, Halep has a good chance to beat Pliskova, as she leads their head-to-head 7-2, being 6-1 on hard courts.

The other semifinal will be contested between Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit and Australia’s Ashleigh Barty.

Our Jimmie48 photographed all the semifinals and all three doubles quarterfinals that took place on Wednesday. Notice that Ashleigh Barty, who will be a new Top 10 member when the new rankings are released on Monday, is through to the semifinals in both singles and doubles. In doubles she’s teamed up with Victoria Azarenka.

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March 28, 2019

Category: Samantha Stosur