Stosur and Dellacqua to carry Australia’s hopes

 

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By Jocelyn McLennan, 30 Jun 2012 Jocelyn McLennan is a Roar Pro

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 Casey Dellacqua, Samantha Stosur, Tennis

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Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua may very well be the only ones able to salvage some Australian pride at this year’s Wimbledon.

With no players left in the singles, the responsibility now falls to the doubles combinations to at least snatch some bragging rights back from the British. Scot Andy Murray’s chances have been buoyed with the defeat of Raphael Nadal on his side of the draw.

The Australian pair defeated Sorana Cirstea and Ayumi Morita 6-2, 6-3 in their first round encounter on Thursday. Besides the Fed Cup, the pair has rarely played together.

Apart from the very top seeds and players, most have abandoned their usual tour pairings in favour of teaming up with a fellow countryman as practice and warm up for the Olympics, to be played on the same Wimbledon courts.

The Australian paring are yet to win a title together however both have unquestionable credentials as doubles players. Stosur is a former world number one and Dellacqua broke through for her maiden grand slam title wining the 2011 French Open mixed with American Scott Lipinsky.

Their task is a daunting one as they face top seeds from the USA, Huber and Raymond, in the next round. Stosur should be able to have some insight into the tactics to defeat Raymond, having partnered her when she rose to the number one doubles ranking.

It is surprising that the Australian pair have not teamed up more, as they form the effective left right combination, the hallmark of history’s most dominant doubles teams.