Australia’s Samantha Stosur reacts after defeating USA’s Serena Williams during a quarter final match for the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Wednesday, June 2, 2010. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
Sam Stosur has shown remarkable fighting qualities to recover from a second-set collapse and defeat world No.1 Serena Williams in a three-set French Open quarter-final at Roland Garros.
Stosur was in charge, leading 5-3 in the second set and serving for the match, before tightening up and allowing Williams to launch one of her trademark fightbacks.
The Australian bounced back to produce some stunning tennis late in the deciding set to claim victory 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 8-6 in two hours and 24 minutes and move into the semi-finals for the second straight year.
The quarter-final win kept alive Stosur’s dream of becoming the nation’s first singles title holder at Roland Garros since Margaret Court in 1973.
The Australian turned the 12-time major winner into a nervous wreck in the opening set on centre court, mixing up her power game with a backhand slice to rattle the American.
But Stosur opened the door for Williams by dropping serve late in the second set and she is not the player to give a second chance.
Many thought that it would be the American that would hold her nerve late in the third set but it was Stosur that produced two stunning passing shots to break Williams’ serve.
And the second time around, the Australian got the job done.
She will meet fourth seed Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals with Williams having been the last player in the draw with a grand slam to her name.
Stosur earlier walked onto a far from full Court Philippe Chatrier in cool, clear conditions and quickly started attacking Williams’ second serve.
The American fended off two break points in the third game but once the Australian cracked her serve, the wheels started falling off for Williams and Stosur wrapped up the first set in 36 minutes.
The 12-time major winner looked like she was falling to pieces on serve in the second game of the second set but at 0-40 had a crucial overrule of a second serve fault and she held serve.
Stosur kept putting Williams under pressure on serve but the American managed to keep on wriggling out of trouble.
In desperation, the 2002 champion even tried to charge the Queenslander’s serve at one stage with the ball flying straight past her swinging racquet.
She eventually broke Williams in the eighth game and the world No.1 looked clueless and almost in tears before Stosur stepped up to serve for the match at 5-3.
But the Gold Coaster wobbled in her service game and Williams is the one player that needs to be finished off.
Stosur served her first double fault of the match and slipped at a crucial moment as Williams pulled off her first break of the game.
The American is renowned for climbing off the canvas and she lifted noticeably as she captured the tiebreak 7-2 to push the contest into a third set.
Emboldened by her recovery, Williams started playing more freely as Stosur tried to come to terms with why she was still out on court.
The American looked like she had Stosur on the ropes with the Australian 2-3 and 0-30 on serve before she hit her way out of trouble.
Williams continued to put the pressure on Stosur and at 4-5 missed a simple volley before shanking a forehand to allow Williams a match point.
Williams pushed her forehand just long and Stosur kept her nerve to hold at 5-5 before managing another escape to level it up at 6-6.
The Australian finally forced some pressure onto Williams and she pulled off two brilliant passing shots to hand herself another chance to serve for the match.
Williams felt she had blown the match.
“It was me, it was my match and I lost it,” she said.
“That’s basically what happened.”
She said she had been surprised with her performance.
“I was definitely off, I did not play as well as I did in my other four rounds. Had I played better for two minutes, maybe the result could have been better. But is didn’t work out.”
Dip
Guest
Doesn't she look fit as. Needs to play a bit more attacking too, slightly more as well as finish games when leading. Can't wait for her reach the finals. Tonight Jankovic. Sometimes Sam tries to kill the point a bit too early.
Kazama
Roar Guru
Jameswm, I too thought she was gone after failing to serve out the match in the second; she does have a bit of a reputation of being a choker. But I kept watching anyway, and despite Serena improving massively in the third Sam still found a way to win. I really like the way Stosur presents herself on court, in comparison with Serena anyway. I think if Serena did a better job of keeping her emotions under control she would have many more Grand Slams. Sure, she rides the emotional highs to victory but when she's down, she can lose to anyone if they keep their cool. Sometimes it seems like Serena is playing against herself as much as the person down the other end of the court. I guess Stosur also needs to keep her emotions under control, because really this match should have been all over in the second set. Easier said than done I guess, but I think it's really intimidating to play against someone who doesn't react. Sam seems to want to play like that, as for the first set and a half she didn't give anything away while down the other end Serena was almost in tears a couple of times. Also you can't see her eyes behind the visor, so it can be like you are playing something that isn't human. I think if Sam can keep her emotions under control then she will win at least one Major, maybe more. She definitely has the game to be the number one player on tour, it's just a matter of her believing that. Federer had the same issues when he was younger (though he still won Majors, I guess because that's how much talent he has), once he learned to compose himself on court he started winning Major after Major.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Jameswm..I am disappointed you went to sleep. Such little faith! There was a point in the 13th game of the third set which was the best of the match. At the end of a long rally Sam was out near the tramlines and played a miraculous crosscout backhand that left Serena stranded. You could see the fight go out of Serena and this break was decisive. Jankovic is more defensive than Henin and Serena.She will retrieve all day. Sam has to pick the right moment and unleash on the forehand. Sam has the game and grit to go all the way. Please don't go to sleep in the semi.
Jameswm
Guest
I went to sleep at the end of the 2nd set and thought she was gone. What a great effort to fight back from the emotional low of failing to serve out the match. Dare I say it (touch wood), but there's no reason why she can't go all the way now. She's got as much chance as any of the 4 left.
Kurt
Roar Pro
Just watched a replay of the game on ESPN, how fit does Sam look? She has clearly had a serious off season and focused on developing the strength to play the modern power game.
Jecker
Guest
Don't know about you, Tom, but watching the match on TSN this morning when Serena's match-point shot went long I was drained. A great victory for Sam. Here are some of John Branch's (NY Times tennis writer) courtside comments. "For a time, the match seemed much less competitive. Stosur won 17 consecutive points bridging the first and second sets, and it momentarily appeared that Williams would go meekly to the grass-court season. After losing one game, she screamed toward her cheering section, which included her parents and sister Venus. She often muttered to her racket. "While Stosur outmuscled Henin, she looked for a time to be doing the same to Williams, perhaps the strongest player on tour. For someone so versed in the net play of doubles, she was surprisingly comfortable combating Williams from the baseline. "Jankovic might have hoped that Williams would be her opponent. After all, Jankovic is 4-4 in her career against Williams, and beat her recently on the clay at Rome. But she will be the next former No. 1, after Henin and Williams, to have to defend herself against Stosur." Sam has a real shot. That kick second serve of hers is something else.