Stosur has been a mainstay of Australian tennis for many of this century, her success in girls’s tennis crisscrossing the careers of Ash Barty and, in males’s tennis, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis and Nick Kyrgios.
Amongst myriad feats in singles and doubles, Stosur is greatest remembered for a US Open triumph greater than a decade in the past, achieved with a 6-2, 6-3 finals win over Serena Williams, no much less.
Loading
However that’s solely the beginning of it. Stosur was particularly profitable on clay at Roland Garros, reaching the ultimate there in 2010, in addition to three different singles semi-finals.
The correct-hander mixed singles and doubles play with aplomb, successful two grand slam blended doubles titles and selecting up three girls’s doubles main titles. Her success with Zhang Shuai at Melbourne Park in 2019 gave Stosur the Australian Open title she deserved.Having made the ultimate name in December that this Australian Open, her twenty first look since 2002, would definitively be the skilled farewell, Stosur stays snug with the choice.
She represented Australia as a taking part in captain on the inaugural United Cup over the brand new yr after which went to Adelaide for doubles. Out of the blue, nonetheless, she will nearly contact the end line.
“It feels proper to cease right here. I’ve wished to cease at house,” she mentioned.
“It seems like a very good time despite the fact that I’ve been taking part in.
“I’m like, ‘do I wish to cease?’ You already know what I imply – it’s laborious to then really make that call however whether or not it was now, or in six months, or a month or every week or no matter, it’s by no means going to be straightforward. It’s at all times going to have that feeling [of finality] …
“I’ve had a reasonably good run. It’s my twenty first AO, so you recognize there’s heaps that I’m actually, actually happy with. Irrespective of when it occurs, it’s going to be laborious as a result of I do love taking part in.
Loading
“Yeah, the time’s come.”
Requested to ponder the potential of a fairytale departure marked by one other slam win, Stosur catches her breath.
“If we did that, I imply, phew, what a option to exit,” she mentioned.
“I don’t suppose there’d be something higher than sort of going away with a trophy.
“There’s a great distance earlier than that occurs. Before everything what I wish to do that subsequent week or two is simply benefit from the second, say thanks [and] simply go on the market and play.
“To have that feeling of pure pleasure on the market taking part in, such as you do each follow session or no matter it’s, that’s what I actually wish to get out of this week.”
Watch the Australian Open stay and free on the 9 Community – Channel 9, 9Gem, and 9NOW.
Information, outcomes and skilled evaluation from the weekend of sport despatched each Monday. Join our Sport publication.
