mtenis.com.pl

Q. Was there any major adjustment made in the last 72 hours or a totally different ballgame?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, I mean nothing major. You know, obviously I played that match in Hobart and went down in straight sets. But the last three times we played I had good success.

I kind of knew what I wanted to do. I don't think there was anything major that I had to change. Obviously I tried to return a little better today, I thought I served better, all around didn't give her so many free points.

Little things, but not anything we had to go out and spend hours on court trying to think about.



Q. You looked far more patient in the points.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, absolutely. That was a big part of going into today's match. I knew she was going to hit some winners, she was going to play some really good points. I also knew if I didn't have a shot and I kind of stayed in there, used my slice, I didn't think she liked too much in Hobart, then I was going to be able to get myself back in the point even if I was down.

Like I said, she was getting some winners, but I also had to think I was going to be able to hang in there as well until I got an opportunity to try and hit a winner or do something I really wanted to do.



Q. The conditions suited you a bit more today?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, the ball was definitely flying around. It was pretty hot out on court. You get that response from the court and balls when it's hot and the sun is shining. I was jumping and using my spin and all that whenever I was able to, so that was nice.



Q. How big was the ninth game to maintain the momentum?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it was definitely a big game. From 4 1 down, obviously I got that momentum to get those next three games, then serving at 4, you have to think, Okay, you got that momentum, you want to hang onto it, play a really good game. If she's going to break, she's going to have to hit some winners.

It was pretty long. Thankfully I was able to serve well at the right times. I knew it was important. I wasn't going to try to do anything silly. Play smart, and thankfully I got through that one.



Q. Mentally what does that do for you, to get one done?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: It's a really good feeling, obviously. The first hurdle is quite often the hardest. To come out and play, play a pretty decent match, I'm very pleased obviously. A bit of a relief there as well. Very happy to get through and obviously rectify what happened a few days ago is also very pleasing.

First one's down. Doesn't mean I'm looking further ahead. I have to focus on this next match and take my second round just as seriously, just as importantly. That's what I'll do.



Q. You don't often admonish yourself. You yelled at yourself, Stop pushing the ball. Do you remember that?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah. Sometimes you've got to let some frustration out. I did feel like at times throughout that period I was kind of just putting it back in there. Even though I needed to be patient, you got to still be looking to have some intent with it. I felt like I'd kind of got away from that for those few points a couple of games. She was able to dictate and do what she wanted to do.

Yeah, sometimes you just got to tell myself what to do. If it comes out a bit loud, so be it (smiling).



Q. Early days. How is it going with Miles? Tinkering going on?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Not necessarily. Nothing really technical or anything like that. I guess there's always little things that you can focus on. That's kind of what the focus has been. I think I said the other day, I think as I play more matches, then it becomes a little bit easier probably to try and make some, you know, different changes or tactical changes or anything like that.

I think I'm still trying to play my tennis and go out there and play the way I want to play. Obviously with these little things in the back of my mind, I know that we've been talking about and trying to work on. So it's good.



Q. Those little things will remain secret?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I won't tell anyone just yet (smiling).



Q. How much did the crowd come into it for you?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it was a great crowd. I definitely felt all the support out there, which is a great feeling. I know that, yeah, they were getting behind me. When you are down in a set like I was, then you start creeping back, then you get back, that's obviously when they get really excited and they really start trying to help you over the line, get behind you even more.

It's even good. Even in some tight moments, they yell out something funny. Makes you have a bit of a laugh, relax a little bit. So, yeah, it's fun playing out there.



Q. Talk about your possible next opponents, especially Pironkova.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I didn't see any of the Sydney tournament. But to go through quallies and win a tournament as tough as what Sydney was, she must be playing very well. I kind of know her game a little bit. We played each other in the Tournament of Champions, the last one of the year actually. I played her there.

I mean, completely different circumstances. Court was indoor, very slow, gritty court in Sofia. If I end up playing her, it's going to be a different ballgame. I know what to expect a little bit, but she must be in pretty decent form to have gone through and have won Sydney.



Q. Pretty impressive heat over the next couple days. Does that play to your advantage?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't usually struggle in the heat. So that's fine. I practiced here through December. There was some pretty hot days in Sydney. Got through those all right.

Tournament play is always that little bit different. If you do all the right things, try to stay hydrated, look after yourself, hopefully by the time you get out on court, you won't have any problem. Touch wood, that will be the same for me.

Q. You must be relieved in that heat to be able to have gotten through that match so quickly.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, regardless of heat, it's nice to get through matches like that, that's for sure. Yeah, it was another really stinking hot day today.

Playing in the night, it's always going to be that the edge is kind of off it, but yeah, still, all the same, good to get through that quickly.



Q. How did you feel out there?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I feel great. Really happy with the way that I played. Probably the first four games are obviously the tightest moment for the match. She started out pretty well. But I feel like I was finding my range pretty well and felt good and was moving well. Once I kind of got that first break, I felt like, Okay, you're on your way a little bit.

Obviously, the longer it went on, the more comfortable I felt. I was able to, yeah, dictate play with what I wanted to do.

Yeah, really, really pleasing from that aspect.



Q. Crowd getting behind you tonight?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it was a great crowd. Fun to play out there. You definitely feel their support. Yeah, when you're playing like that, the scoreboard is ticking over the way you want it to, it makes it all the more enjoyable. They get behind you. Yeah, can't complain about anything.



Q. 23 winners to 5. Played on your terms, wasn't it?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I definitely tried to dictate play right from the start. I mean, that's kind of always the way I want to play, regardless of who I'm playing. Especially tonight I felt I was able to do that quite well, right from the first game to the last, wait for my opportunities if I needed to.

As soon as I got it, I tried to step in and be aggressive. If I was behind in the point, just try to rally it back and see if just hanging in there was enough. Thankfully tonight it was.



Q. Pironkova got the trainer out after the first set.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I mean, you could kind of tell she wasn't moving so great and all that. But regardless of whether the trainer comes out, you don't want to take your foot off the pedal.

Look, I played too many matches, things can start going wrong when opponents call trainers, a little bit injured. I kept focused on what I wanted to do, kind of not let her have a foot in the door.

If you can keep going and playing the way that you are and your opponent's not feeling so great, it's even easier to keep going. Whereas if you give them that little bit of a sniff, things can start going better, it can become a tight one. Regardless of what she was feeling, I didn't want to change anything on what I was doing.



Q. Ivanovic on Friday. Initial thoughts?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: It's going to be a tough match. Ana has been playing well last year. Last two tournaments last year we played, she won one, I won one. Couple three setters in there. It's going to be a tough one.

Look, I'm looking forward to it. I am happy to be in the third round. I want to keep going. I'm really pleased with the way I played tonight. Hopefully I can keep building on what I just did to Friday's match and, yeah, really enjoy it out there and have fun.



Q. Do you feel different to how you felt from the Hopman Cup to Hobart? Seems like a progression.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: That's the way you want it to be. As much as you want to be playing your best tennis at the Hopman Cup or Hobart, you want to peak, as they say, at the right moment. I don't know if I peaked, but my tennis is getting better, it's moving in the right direction.

I think that preparation in all those matches that I was able to play in those two previous events have really helped me play this well up until now.

Look, it's nice that it's worked out that way. Obviously I still feel like I can keep going and want to keep improving with the way that I am playing.



Q. How much do those experiences in Hobart, not necessarily playing your best tennis, getting through the tough matches, helped you this week?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Regardless of how you win, how good you play, how bad you play, it's always nice to win at the end of the day.

I think especially getting through that first one against Brengle was a huge confidence boost. Yeah, I didn't play my best tennis, but I got through it, fought hard, did some things really well. There were some things I still needed to improve.

You get through that first one, you give yourself another chance. Same thing against Mladenovic, you get through that, you're down a couple of match points, and you kind of have another day to survive in the event.

All those tight matches, the hours on court, going through those tricky situations definitely help you in the future, maybe in the next match, maybe in a match in a month's time or at the end of the year. You don't know. But I think the more you can get through those, it's really important to having not won a match at Hopman Cup to then winning those couple at Hobart gives, yeah, the confidence a bit of a boost.



Q. Casey Dellacqua said tomorrow, being 44 degrees, she fears conditions might be more dangerous. What is your view on the heat?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I kind of stayed away from the heat and tried to stay inside as much as I could today because I know how awful it must have been out there playing.

Look, 41's pretty high. If it gets to 44, that is certainly another step up. I think players and everybody involved have to be really careful. You've got to do what you can to obviously go out and play as best you can. If it's not cooled off, then you've got to really do the right things.

It's not just for us. It's the fans, the lines people, the ball kids. Everyone is suffering out there. I think there's got to be some common sense, whatever looked at, because you don't want it to get dangerous and have somebody getting hurt because of it.



Q. What have you made of the success Australia is having this year?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it's fantastic. I think we're having a really good week. I'm sure I can speak for all of us still going. We want to keep going, keep doing well.

I watched a little bit of Kyrgios play on TV, a bit of Kokkinakis, as well. They were two great matches. I'm sure those two guys are super excited playing their first Aussie Open.

Cay is still going. We're having a great time. Hopefully we can keep it rolling.

Q. What were your thoughts on the match overall?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, look, I thought it was a very good match. Obviously I had an opportunity to close out that first set a little bit quicker than what I ended up doing.

Look, I thought we both played very well. Ana came out swinging. I thought she returned great tonight. I think as that third set went on, she kind of, I don't know what she was feeling obviously, but I thought she was kind of up there.

I felt like I had to hit very good serves and really hit my spots to make it that I was going to be on top of the point. Then the last couple of games where she broke me she, yeah, played unbelievable.

I think we both played very well. Yeah, that's that.



Q. She was strong on her forehand tonight. Was it hard to avoid that?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I think her forehand is her better shot anyway. She's always very dangerous on that side, has the ability to hit a lot of winners. I kind of knew that going in anyway.

I do think she hit it very well tonight. If you weren't going there with a purpose or hitting it well, then you were going to be in trouble for the rest of the point. It's one of these things you can't not go there, but you also have a make sure whatever you are doing to that side has got to be effective.



Q. Has her game changed the last 12 months or so?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think she still generally plays the same way. I think she's playing better now than maybe a year or two ago. I think confidence probably has a lot to do with that. Her serve was very good tonight. Sometimes that's something that can break down.

But, look, I think she's obviously got a very dangerous game. She's got the ability to beat anyone. When she's on, she's very tough.



Q. Was there anything particularly you thought caused the match to start swinging her way?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I don't know. Maybe that's tennis. I thought we were both playing very well, like I said. That first set obviously got pretty close there at the end. She had opportunities. Sometimes when you lose a set after having so many set points, it's easy to have a drop. But she certainly didn't do that tonight.

I felt like even though I was down Love 40 in that first service game of the second set, to get that back, I felt I was able to kick on and keep the momentum. But she was able to shut that down and get that early break. Yeah, I wasn't able to get it back.

There were certainly chances where maybe I had a little sniff here and there towards the end of that second set. But she played well to get out of them.



Q. It's obviously easy to say it now, but are there things looking back you could have done differently to get her off balance on her forehand?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I'd probably have to think about it a little bit more before I can really dissect point by point or really crucial things.

But, look, it's easier maybe afterwards when you do sit down and look at it. When you're in the moment, I think you've got to go with what your gut says. That's what I did. I tried to back myself with those decisions that I made.



Q. Having been up a set and then to lose, do you walk away still thinking you played well and she played a really good game?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I do think I played well. She played probably that little bit better tonight. That's kind of the way it is.

Look, of course it's disappointing. I thought, you know, I was playing well enough to get through the next round. Look, it's one of those things, tennis is tough. Sometimes there's obviously more important points than others. You win those, you go through. If you don't, you sit here on the other end of it.

Look, it was a tough match. Obviously I've got to look at it in a little bit more time to see exactly what went wrong. At the moment now, it's disappointing, but I have to say that I'm proud of the way I was able to play out there.



Q. Did that make the loss a little bit easier to take?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, look, you never like losing no matter what circumstances. But if you're going to lose, for sure it's better when you don't feel like you beat yourself and you kind of did things that you know you shouldn't or whatever it is.

So, again, yeah, disappointed, but can still look back on that match and think that I played well and got beaten by a good player tonight.



Q. Can you take some good positives out of the tournament?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Sure. I'm pleased with the tournament. I guess it kind of all goes together just the same as that last answer. It's obviously disappointing I couldn't go further. But I thought I played well. I thought each match got better. There's certainly lots of positives I can take from this first few weeks of the year going into the rest of the year.

So it is what it is. But I'm looking forward to obviously the weeks ahead.



Q. You looked more comfortable on court than maybe you have been in the past few years. Do you feel you've turned a corner in terms of playing in this city?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, look, I don't feel like any of the outside whatever was a problem. So I thought I handled myself well, played well, was able to get through some tricky moments in Hobart probably that led to me being able to feel more comfortable on court and play better here.

No, for me this year, it was just another tournament and I enjoyed it, yeah, gave myself the best opportunity to try to play well.



Q. Have you done anything in particular before these tournaments to try to address these problems?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, nothing really different to previous years. I think it's just one of those things. Each time you go through, you maybe get a little bit better at it. At the end of the day, if you're playing well, kind of everything else becomes irrelevant. It's how good you're hitting the ball and if you're winning matches really.



Q. The roof closing, did that have any effect at all on your play on the ball?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I think at nighttime the ball is always heavier anyway. It's probably sometimes not helping my game sometimes. With the roof shut, it probably slowed things even more, and she was able to keep swinging and really going through it. Her ball was able to penetrate the court, whereas obviously I like to play with spin, and I didn't feel like I was really getting the reward for doing all that.

But, you know, it's one of those things. Got the ability to close the roof. You go out there and play. I didn't worry about it going back out there. Yeah, for sure it makes the conditions a bit heavier.



Q. As experienced as you are, when the break came early in the third set, did you start to feel those old nerves again?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, no. I felt good. Look, yeah, I was concentrating and focusing on trying to win that next point and get through whatever was going on out there. I just tried to think tactically, Okay, what am I going to do now? What did she just do? Try and win the next point.

It was just a matter of playing tennis.



Q. Did you feel the delay because of the rain came at a good or bad time for you or didn't make any difference?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, I don't think it probably helped either of us. 8 7 in a tiebreak, it's not ideal for anyone. Yeah, bad timing maybe to walk off the court. I don't know.



Q. What chances do you think Ana has to pass Serena Williams?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Anytime you go on court, there's always a chance. I thought Ana played very well tonight. If she can keep serving well, be dangerous on her forehand, it will certainly give Serena something to think about.

It's going to be very tough. Serena's obviously playing very well. She has been for a long time now. Ana probably doesn't have much to lose, so she can go out there and swing freely. I guess it will be a good match.



Q. The last point where the rain started falling really hard, do you think the last point should have been replayed?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't know. I don't know if there's a rule that says once some raindrops fall on the court you should stop. Maybe whoever won or lost that point was not going to be happy about it.

But, yeah, I don't know. I can't really comment.



Q. In your head have you set yourself any goals, getting back in the top 10, anything like that?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Of course I'd like to get back to the top 10. That's kind of what I'd like to do. But you don't get there without winning lots of matches and working hard. So you've got to put all those little things into place first.

Probably this year I've got to try to do a bit better in these bigger tournaments, Grand Slams, where there's a lot more to gain. Hopefully I can peak at those right times this year.



Q. Do you still feel like the best times of your career are still in front of you?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Absolutely. I think I'm more than capable of playing better and getting better and still improving, doing all that kind of stuff. I'm looking forward to it.

Yeah, I've got no reason to think that I can't keep getting better. Hopefully that will show.



Q. Is Miles staying with you or just before the slams?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: It will be pretty much full time. We need to discuss what's going to happen now, ahead, what tournaments, all that kind of stuff.

Look, it is pretty much going to be a full time thing. So, yeah, I guess we've got to work it all out.

Q. Is that a relief or are you pleased to get through after last year's sort of disappointment?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, look, I'm pleased. I didn't even think about last year's match, to be honest with you. Look, first rounds can be very tricky. I was certainly prepared for a tough match today, but I was able to come out and play well and do exactly what I wanted to do. So that was a good feeling.

Q. What were you most pleased with? What do you think did you best?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think overall it was a pretty solid match. I think I served well; really tactically probably used the right serve at the right time. With the way the conditions were I was able to use my kick serve a lot and change it up and go hard. I think I was, yeah, able to make her feel uncomfortable on return, which is exactly what I want to do.

Q. Lauren's 5'2"; Kanepi I significantly taller. What sort of challenges does that pose in the next round?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: She's a very, look, tough opponent. I have played some matches and I've won and lost. She can be very dangerous. She has a big game. It's just whether or not she's putting it together. To be honest, I haven't seen her play much recently. We played last year Moscow early in that tournament. I played a good match. I know playing Kaia you have to go out there and try and win the match because she's a dangerous player. I have to focus really on my tennis and do what I think is going to work against her. Probably look back on those matches that we played in the past years.

Q. 5 and 5 so far for Australia; pretty good start.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it's fantastic. What a good start. Couple of the guys are on later today and tomorrow. Yeah, look, can't get better than that so far.

Q. What are your thoughts on the speed of the court in comparison with previous years you have been here?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't think -- I mean, it is playing quite quick, I guess, at the moment, but I think a huge part of that is the weather. I practiced here for two days before today. First day was pretty lively; yesterday really getting up there; today more so again. I think a huge part is what the weather does. When the sun is out and it's shiny and hard, everything flies through the air and you get a lot of jump off the courts.

Q. If you were put in charge of the sport and could change any rule about play, what one rule would you like to change or enact if you could adjust anything you want as leader of the sport?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh. Huh. Gotta think about this. Maybe this new 20 second rule needs to be implemented fairly for all players on all courts.

Q. How would you go about doing that?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Don't know. I guess the umpires have really got to look at what's going on on every single situation.

Q. Why do you say that? Who is not sort of sticking to that sort of rule on court?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Let's just say the last few slams I keep getting called for these soft warnings, and I've never been called for a time violation in my life, and I get told to hurry up while my opponent is in the back fence. That I wasn't too pleased about in a few other matches. There was nothing like that today, so I'm all happy.

Q. Do you think it's feasible to display a clock so that the players, the fans, and a chair ump could see the time tick off?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah. We actually had a meeting about that couple weeks ago. Yeah, I don't think that would be a bad idea. You know where you stand. Yep, that's it. That's what we've gotta do.

Q. What was it like at the meeting? What were some of the discussions?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I think everyone was kind of for it. As long as it's fair. Whatever the thing is, as long as it's the same for everyone, no matter where you are and who you're playing, I think all players would be fine with it.

Q. So could you assess your momentum coming into the tournament? What do you feel in terms of how you're playing coming in?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I am feeling good. I think the last couple of tournaments have been really encouraging for me in the way I have been playing and feeling out on court and what I have been doing. I think the Cincy tournament, even though it was second-round loss, there was a lot I could take away from that. And then going to Connecticut last week and playing, playing well there and making semis, I think is a huge boost. Yeah, I couldn't really be pleased more with the way that I have had this leadup, and I feel like, yeah, okay, I've got enough matches under my belt and feel good about what I'm doing out there. Yeah, it's been a good leadup and I guess a good turnaround from the first couple of weeks.

Q. Your victory here, is that something you still draw on giving you the confidence that you can go deep in the tournament?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, sure. I'm sure knowing that and having that -- I mean, you have the belief you can do it, but I guess you have that cemented right there. You did do it. So it is something that you can kind of maybe draw on. Obviously it's a new year and you've got to win each of those matches back to back each day, but I guess just knowing in the back of your head, yes, you have achieved that. You have been able to play really well and consistently for those couple weeks and get through the matches that you need to. Yes, it is something can you draw on throughout the tournament maybe if you're in a tricky situation.

Kristyna Pliskova def Sam Stosur 6-4 7-6(6)

Q. Response to that one?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Obviously really disappointed not to get through. Yeah, look, I was behind pretty much the whole match. Then somehow managed to get myself into a position where I nearly won the second set.

It's great that I was able to turn it around, then kind of stuff it up with a couple of errors.

Yeah, look, it's hard.

Q. What do you think happened in the tiebreak?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I mean, I don't know if it was just the tiebreak. But she was obviously serving very well. I was able to break a few times and get myself kind of back into these sets, but I couldn't afford to be down a break in order to do that.

Look, the tiebreak, I got myself back into it. Yeah, made a bad error at 6-All. She came up with another ace. She served very well. Some of those games where I had a couple of breakpoints, she hit a few aces, unreturnables, all those kinds of things.

Yeah, I needed to be better on my service games not to put myself in that position to have to break back just to get back even on the scoreboard.

Q. How powerful was her serve? Did it remind you of anyone on tour?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, look, she's got -- tonight I thought she served very well. She's tall, she's a lefty. It's not easy to return against. Obviously, she hits the ball pretty fast. It's kind of like, I don't know, a Kvitova serve. You know, it's hard to read. You don't really know where it's going a lot of the time. She can hit every spot. You start leaning one way, she can go the other way. It's sort of difficult.

Q. Fourth time losing first round at the Australian Open. Does that weigh on you?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I'm not happy about it. That's for sure. Yeah, unfortunately it's another year done.

Q. Where to from here?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I'm playing doubles and mixed here, then straight after the Open, we got Fed Cup in Slovakia. So I head there, yeah, play Fed Cup, then come home for a couple weeks.

Q. The match fixing allegations, Novak said his team historically had been approached to throw a match. Have you ever been?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Never been asked. Never heard of anyone being asked. Don't know anything about it.

Q. Further headlines of Melbourne Park demons. Did home expectations play any part here?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I didn't play bad. I played a decent match. Played somebody who was playing well. Had a couple of opportunities and didn't take them.

You know, a straight-sets loss, you don't know exactly what that was by reading a scoreboard. It's one of those things.

But, no, look, I felt pretty good coming into tonight's match. I did everything I thought as best as I could tonight, gave it everything, and unfortunately came up short.

Q. How do you think you're going to be remembered as a tennis player?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, hopefully not from my Australian Open results (smiling).

I've had a really good career. I've achieved a lot of things. You know, winning a Grand Slam was my dream from when I was eight or nine years old, and I've been able to do that. There's been a lot of good in my career.

But I'd obviously like to do better here at the Open.

Q. How are you feeling going into this week?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, really good. I feel like I've done everything I can to prepare as well as I can. I feel like I'm hitting the ball well and moving well and feeling good out on court.

So now it's just a matter of getting out there and getting started.

Q. We as the media look that it was a first-round exit at Brisbane and Sydney. Do you think that's hindered you at all going into the Australian Open, or are you still confident with your preparation?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I can't change it. It is what it is. I'm not going into my first round freaking out that I haven't had more than two matches. Like I said, I've done everything else that I can. Obviously it would have been really nice to have played more. But I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person in that situation from the first two weeks of the year.

Q. Is there something you focus on from those losses that you take out that you've tried to focus on the practice court leading into the first Grand Slam?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, like bits and pieces, I guess. I think the first one in Brisbane, I was really happy with the way I played. A couple of points difference, you got a different result. I felt good about that with what I've been doing.

Then last week was a little more of a struggle. But since then I've just really tried to reinforce, you know, the tennis that I know I played my best with, what I'm trying to do, and continually go out and try to work on those things, try to get a little bit better each day.

Q. Heather Watson in the first round. A difficult prospect first up. You've beaten her twice in your career. She hasn't beaten you. How reassuring is that heading into the match?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think it's nice to know you've beaten your opponent before, no doubt. It's a totally different scenario again. It's a new tournament, a new year. You can't kind of rest on those and think, I've done it twice, I'll be able to do it again. You've got to be really focused and clear about what you're trying to do.

I've certainly thought a lot about those previous matches, as has my coach. We've talked about it. I mean, you still got to go out there and execute a game plan and make it happen for yourself.

It's nice to know, but yeah, it certainly isn't going to win you the match on Tuesday. Put it that way.

Q. This is your 15th Australian Open main draw now. Does it seem like yesterday that you were running out for your first match in 2002?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Not really (smiling). But, I mean, I remember lots of different moments from early on when I played. But, look, there's been lots of really good moments. Obviously quite a few disappointing ones as well. Yeah, to be playing my 15th, that's pretty cool.

Q. What is it like at this point two days from actually starting off the tournament?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: In respect to what?

Q. Is there anticipation? Are you sitting there, Let's bring this on?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I mean, I think everyone -- you're hoping at this stage you feel ready, ready to go. You wake up tomorrow, be ready to go. I guess on Tuesday. I get an extra day to prepare. The tension, nerves in the locker room tomorrow.

I can walk in, go to practice, not have any stress tomorrow, whereas half the draw is going to be stressed out tomorrow. You can kind of get used to everything.

There's always a bit of a buzz around when a slam is about to start, first one of the year. I think, yeah, probably at this point everyone's just kind of ready to go. Let's get started.

Q. Is there a feeling of expectation? We talk about this every year, with Bernie, Nick, Daria. They all feel a bit of pressure. Do you feel that as well on your home court?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, there's pressure here. There's pressure at the French Open. There's pressure everywhere. It doesn't matter whether you're the No. 1 in the world. You've got different pressure to the last person in the draw. Everybody's got pressure, but it's how you handle it. It's all, I guess, relative to who you are, where you are in your career, rankings, everything else.

I don't think there's too many times you can walk on a court without feeling that, no matter where you're playing.

Q. It's going to be the 15th time lucky this year, do you think?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Holding a trophy?

Q. Yes.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah (laughter). I mean, that would be, yeah, as good as it gets.

But, look, there's a long way to go. Obviously I'd love that to happen. I guess we'll see what happens after the first round, then if I'm here for the second one we'll talk about it then, then the third and fourth.

Yeah, look, everybody would like to be in that position by the end of the tournament.

Q. Nadal talked in Brisbane about his memory of coming here last year, the tournament being rocked by the match fixing the first day. A year later, Tennis Australia has done a lot to address it. Have you noticed any difference on a player level, presence of some things that make you feel better that there's good vigilance or better vigilance than there was?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think it's definitely more of, I guess, a topic. Everyone's aware of what's been going on, the situation. It's not a great thing for our sport or any sport. We certainly don't want to be going down that road of that continually happening, yeah, making a bad name for everything.

I think it's something that you need to be really strong about, stamp out quickly. Really, yeah, you can't tolerate it. I think surely everybody here would realize that and hopefully have the same opinion.

Samantha Stosur jest przekonana, że Serena Williams zagra w Australian Open tylko wtedy, gdy będzie pewna, że może wygrać cały turniej. - To byłoby absolutnie niezwykłe, gdyby to zrobiła - powiedziała Australijka.

Włoszka z dopingową rysą wróci do Auckland. Sara Errani dostała dziką kartę
We wrześniu na świat przyszło pierwsze dziecko Sereny Williams. Amerykanka planuje wrócić na korty bardzo szybko. W święta Bożego Narodzenia ogłosiła, że w sobotę 30 grudnia rozegra pierwszy mecz po powrocie. W pokazówce w Abu Zabi zmierzy się z Jeleną Ostapenko, mistrzynią Rolanda Garrosa 2017.
Williams w swoim dorobku ma 23 wielkoszlemowe tytuły. Triumf 36-letniej Amerykanki w Australian Open 2018 byłby wydarzeniem bez precedensu. W 2009 roku Kim Clijsters wygrała US Open, 18 miesięcy po urodzeniu pierwszego dziecka. Belgijka była jednak o 10 lat młodsza od Sereny.


Samantha Stosur uważa, że Williams zagra w Australian Open tylko wtedy, gdy będzie przekonana, że ma szanse wygrać cały turniej. - Myślę, że stałaby się rzecz absolutnie niezwykła, gdyby to zrobiła. Wtedy byłby to jeden z najszybszych powrotów w historii - powiedziała Australijka.

- Biorąc pod uwagę zmiany i wszystko, co wydarzyło się w jej życiu, nie spodziewam się, że zagra w Melbourne, jeśli nie będzie gotowa, aby pokazać swój najlepszy tenis. Jednak, jeśli ktoś decyduje się wrócić po kilku miesiącach, to przeciwko Serenie na pewno zakładu nie przyjmiesz - stwierdziła mistrzyni US Open 2011.

Artur Szpilka potwierdził debiut w MMA, padła wstępna data
Williams na razie nie ma zaplanowanego żadnego startu w głównym cyklu przed Australian Open. Mecz z Ostapenko zapewne ma jej pokazać, czy jest już gotowa do rywalizacji na najwyższym poziomie. Aktualnie Amerykanka klasyfikowana jest w rankingu na 22. miejscu. Ostatni start zanotowała w Australian Open 2017 i w wielkim stylu sięgnęła po tytuł.

Stosur w drodze do Australian Open ma zaplanowane występy w Brisbane i Sydney. Większość okresu przygotowawczego spędziła w Gold Coast ze swoim trenerem Joshem Eaglem, a w ubiegłym tygodniu trenowała w Melbourne. - Była to dla mnie trochę bardziej niekonwencjonalna forma przygotowań do sezonu, ale wszystko wyglądało naprawdę dobrze - powiedziała Australijka.

Samantha StosurSamantha Stosur - HOW HWEE YOUNG / PAP/EPA
Samantha Stosur zatrudniła nowego-starego trenera – Nicka Watkinsa. Po raz ostatni pracowała z nim... 20 lat temu.

Czyli wtedy, gdy była nastolatką. Dziś ma 34 lata. Na razie razem ze swoim szkoleniowcem umówiła się na współpracę na okres startów w Australii, ale jeśli w tym czasie przyjdą wyniki, będą współdziałać dalej. Zawodniczka przyznała, że na pierwszych po długiej przerwie treningach z Watkinsem czuła nową falę entuzjazmu.

Jej celem na najbliższy sezon jest powrót do Top 40, bo to miejsce we wszystkich imprezach z cyklu WTA daje jej to szansę na grę bez eliminacji. W tej chwili Stosur to 72. rakieta świata.

– Myślę, że w nowym układzie możemy razem poprawić jeszcze wiele rzeczy. Bardzo duże rezerwy są na ziemi. To zawsze była moja najlepsza nawierzchnia (we French Open Sam w 2010 roku występowała w finale, poza tym do półfinału dochodziła w 2009, 2012 i 2016 roku). Muszę na niej lepiej wykorzystywać serwis i wygrywać przy moim podaniu zdecydowanie więcej gemów – podkreśliła tenisistka z antypodów.

W 2018 roku na turnieje podróżował z nią Josh Eagle.

Samantha Stosur wróciła do korzeni i ponownie pracuje z Nickiem Watkinsem, swoim trenerem z młodzieńczych lat. - Jest kilka konkretnych rzeczy, którym poświęcamy uwagę - powiedziała Australijka.


Czytaj także:

Naomi Osaka ponownie doceniona w kraju. Japonka doczekała się własnej kolekcji znaczków

"Triumf na kortach Wimbledonu". Maria Szarapowa wskazała największą niespodziankę w karierze

Wiktoria Azarenka chce pokazać moc. "Zrobiłam wszystko, aby moje przygotowania były jak najlepsze"

Annabel Croft: Djoković to faworyt Australian Open. Federer? Nie jest jeszcze gotowy na emeryturę

Grigor Dimitrow zaprezentował sztab szkoleniowy na sezon 2019. Znalazł się w nim Andre Agassi
Samantha Stosur w latach 2009-2016 utrzymywała się w Top 20 rankingu. W tym czasie trzy razy zakończyła sezon w czołowej "10". Z tego względu ciężar oczekiwań całej Australii skupiony był na niej. Aktualnie Stosur znajduje się poza Top 50 i jest dopiero czwartą rakietą swojego kraju. Wyżej notowane są Ashleigh Barty (WTA 15), Daria Gawriłowa (WTA 35) i Ajla Tomljanović (WTA 46).
W latach 2016-2018 tenisistka z Gold Coast z Australian Open odpadła w I rundzie. - Przez ostatnie kilka lat nie było mi łatwo radzić sobie z tymi oczekiwaniami, nie zawsze udawało mi się to najlepiej, jak potrafię. Czasem trudno jest zacząć nowy sezon i na pewno nie jestem jedyną tenisistką, której nie udaje się wygrać zbyt wielu meczów w styczniu. Jednak dla mnie jako Australijki jest to o wiele gorsza sytuacja niż dla innych - mówiła Stosur.

Australijka postanowiła wrócić do korzeni i od niedawna pracuje ze swoim trenerem z dzieciństwa, Nickiem Watkinsem. - Jest kilka naprawdę konkretnych rzeczy, nad którymi próbuję pracować z Nickiem - stwierdziła 34-latka z Gold Coast. Największym testem będzie dla niej zaufać technicznym zmianom. - Grasz z różnymi przeciwniczkami, które stale wywierają na ciebie presję, więc na pewnym etapie wydaje się to takie łatwe, jak podczas powtarzania ćwiczeń i wyrabiania nawyków i wszystko wygląda świetnie - powiedziała Stosur.


- Dla mnie bardzo ważne jest, aby szczególnie w styczniu i w pierwszych miesiącach sezonu podążać zgodnie z tokiem rozumowania, że niekoniecznie będzie to łatwe. Prawdziwy cel to powiedzieć sobie, że cokolwiek będzie się działo, muszę iść obraną drogą i nie mogę wracać do starych nawyków - dodała Australijka, która z Watkinsem po raz ostatni pracowała, gdy była jeszcze nastolatką.

ZOBACZ WIDEO Co z następcami polskich skoczków? "Wyrwa może być widoczna"

Stosur zgadza się, że gorsza pozycja w rankingu może być jej atutem, bo teraz presja będzie spoczywała na barkach Ashleigh Barty. - Nigdy nie chcę wychodzić na kort, będąc spięta i pełna niepokoju. Nigdy nie chcesz się tak czuć, bez względu na to czy grasz w Australii, czy w Chinach, czy w USA - mówiła aktualnie 72. rakieta globu.

W Australian Open zaledwie dwa razy doszła do IV rundy. W swojej karierze wystąpiła w 24 singlowych finałach i tylko jeden z nich osiągnęła w Australii (Gold Coast 2005). Jednak bycie w centrum uwagi w styczniu nie było dla niej ciężarem. - Czasami może to tak nie wygląda, ale naprawdę lubię grać czując wsparcie kibiców. I wiem, że mam ich za sobą, nie ważne gdzie gram - w Brisbane, Sydney czy Melbourne - stwierdziła Australijka, która najwyżej w rankingu była na czwartym miejscu.

Stosur to jedyna od ponad 40 lat Australijka, która zdobyła wielkoszlemowy tytuł w singlu. Triumfowała w US Open 2011 po zwycięstwie nad Sereną Williams. Osiągnęła też finał Rolanda Garrosa 2010 i przegrała w nim z Franceską Schiavone. Tenisistka z Gold Coast wierzy, że wciąż jest w stanie rywalizować ze światową czołówką. - Dopóki czuję, że nadal mnie na to stać, będą grać dalej. Kocham to, co robię - powiedziała.