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Sam Stosur will attempt to turn back the clock against Klara Zakopalova when she takes to Rod Laver Arena today for Round 1 of the Australian Open. Join us for live scores and commentary from 3:00 pm AEDT.
After a shaky record at home, Stosur will have to front yet another psychological barrier, having just lost to Zakopalova in the semifinal of the Hobart International last week.
Stosur holds a 3-2 record against the Czech world number 37 and will be looking to keep her winning record in tact against Zakopalova to stay alive in the Australian Open.
Australia’s great hope will need her serve and forehand firing if she wants to get the better of her speedy opponent who packs a punch of her own from the baseline.
At her best, Stosur has the potential to knock off the worlds best on the big stage, putting her grand slam hoodoo to sleep with an emphatic win over Serena Williams for the 2011 US Open title.
On Australian soil however she has failed to live up to the expectation of her fans, having reached the fourth round just twice and never progressed further in 11 attempts at Melbourne Park.
Zakopalova is no easy beat for Stosur and with the Czech star finding some impressive form in the New Year she poses as a real threat for our Aussie.
If Stosur can shake off the early nerves, get into net and keep her unforced errors down than she should notch up a victory against Zakopalova.
It is set to be a hearty opener for the two rivals which will no doubt produce some entertaining crosscourt battles.
A tough one to pick but in front of the home crowd for better or for worse, Stosur should come away with the win, it would be un-Australian not to back her.
Stosur in three sets.
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