Monday, 25 June 2012
Categories: Tennis - International

Sam rockets to first-round Wimbledon victory

By LORISSE DART

FOR the first time in three Wimbledon campaigns, Australia's Sam Stosur has advanced to the second round.

After suffering first-round shock losses in 2011 and 2010, a confident Stosur took 80 minutes to eliminate Spain’s world No.40 Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-1 6-3.

The fifth seed made good on her promise to play aggressively on her least-favourite surface, and took less than 20 minutes to be 5-0 up in the first set.

“To get through the first round is a big hurdle for me, so I’m feeling pretty good,” Stosur told Channel 7. “It’s probably one the best matches I’ve played on grass in recent years so that’s a good feeling.

“I’ve been able to come here a little bit earlier than usual and practice hard and get some good hours in which has been nice, and hopefully that has paid off.”

The world No.5 hit 19 winners in her demolition of the Spaniard, and bolted to a 2-0 lead in the second set before Suarez Navarro gained a break, but it failed to rattle Stosur who broke back in the next game on her way to a hoodoo-breaking victory.

Stosur, who declared it would be “silly” to think she could win Wimbledon based on her poor grass record, said she had the challenge of changing her game in a bid to adapt to the All England environment.

“Today Carla gave me a little bit more time, she likes to hit with top-spin as well, as I do, so I think for both of us maybe we felt like we had a bit more time on the ball than maybe than what we might against some others,” Stosur said.

“But I think that’s an important thing for me to have to do – flatten out my forehand and work on my slice service.

“It’s not my natural serve, it takes a bit of getting used to, but hopefully as the rounds go on I’ll get a little bit better.”

The US Open champion will play dangerous left-hander Arantxa Rus (world No.72) on Wednesday after the Dutchwomen defeated Japanese lucky loser Misaki Doi 7-5 6-3.

Stosur laughed when asked whether she had looked at her draw: “I had a bit of a look, but I certainly don’t get ahead of myself in this event, that’s for sure. So the next one is next, and from there we’ll see.”

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