Eighth-seed Samantha Stosur crashed out in the French Open third round at Roland Garros overnight. The 27 year-old Australian, given a genuinely good chance of taking out the title, made so many unforced errors the 51st ranked Gisela Dulko won 6-4 1-6 6-3 in 121 minutes.
It was the Argentine’s first win over Stosur in three meetings.
The last time they met was in Madrid last month, where Stosur was successful in three sets.
But the writing was on the French wall for Stosur in the first two rounds, with 19 unforced errors in her 6-2 6-3 win over 52nd ranked Czech Iveta Benesova in the opening round – and 17 in the second against 67th ranked Simona Halep from Romania in the 6-0 6-2 victory.
Two romps, but far too many unforced errors.
Last night, the count jumped to 35 errors to Dulko’s 27, who struck 25 winners to Stosur’s 19 for game, set, and match.
Stosur would have been beaten more comprehensively had Dulko converted more than just five of 15 break points.
Which begs the question: what makes Sam Stosur tick when she’s beaten the likes of Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Amelie Mauresmo, Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina, and Caroline Wozniacki – all world number ones at the time – yet is consistently beaten by lesser lights?
The answer lies in just the two titles she’s won in an 11-year career – Osaka in 2009 and Charleston last year.
Stosur’s problem? She’s her own worst enemy, especially as she has one of the most powerful serves on tour, a ferocious forehand, with a solidly-struck two-fisted backhand – more than enough ammunition to successfully fire at all-comers.
And because of her standing as a doubles player in the past, where she reached world number one status in 2006 and won the US Open doubles in 2005, and the French in 2006, Stosur is a very accomplished volleyer.
Yet, her singles career stats are 334 wins with 239 losses – a win percentage of just 58.28, not nearly high enough to get the job done commensurate with her ability.
Conceding the Slams are the career criteria. In 33 of them, Stosur has:
* Been beaten in the opening round 12 times.
* In the second round – 9.
* The third – 7.
* The fourth – 2.
* The quarters – 1.
* The semis – 1.
* And the final once – last year’s French Open – comfortably beaten by Italian Francesca Schiavone 6-4 7-6, when Stosur was the clear favourite.
Overall, a litany of under-achieving. Which begs another question as to how Stosur can be ranked as high as number four, and now eight?
There’s no definable answer when Wozniacki is world number one, but has yet to win a Slam – nor has Lee Westwood, the men’s number one golfer, ever won a major.
So Stosur’s gone, so too Anastasia Rodionova, straight-setted by third seed Vera Zvonareva, making Jamila Gajdosova the sole Australian left in the singles.
Despite admitting she’s feeling distraught with the collapse of her two-year marriage, the 24 year-old takes on Germany’s Andrea Petkovic tonight for a place in the round of 16.
And with the shock defeat of number two seed Kim Clijsters, Gajdosova has the chance to reach the quarters, and a possible meeting with Maria Sharapova – my pick to win her first French Open, to complete her career Grand Slam of Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006), and Australian Open in 2008.
Johnno
Guest
Sam stoour reminds me of a Todd Matin in mens tennis or a wendy turnbull in ladies tennis a godo solid top 10 or top 20 player but just is simply not good enough to win the grand slams, she has alimited game just relies on a strong forehand, the italian girl outclassed her last year and someone like Hennin would eat here alive.
clipper
Guest
Sometimes 'womens problems' must come into play - if the timing is wrong, or if one of the players has a bad day, it must surley have some influence - especially on the mental side. Of course no one ever mentions it or uses it as an excuse, but it's something the guys never have to put up with, and should be taken into consideration.
Bruce
Guest
I’m sorry she’s out. I rather like to ogle at her physique.
Matt Wilson
Guest
It's very easy to criticise Sam especially as she is far and away our best player (mens or womens) over the last few years (or at least, since Lleyton has dropped off the radar results wise). But perhaps we should put this in perspective. Yes she has talent, and yes she has beaten the best of the best on her day. But all in all the fault is not with her results, but with the weight of expectation we place on her. In my mind she is a talented tour player who has gone through a phenominal run of form this past year or two, mostly off the back of mental breakthroughs achieved through help from former surfing world champion Layne Beachley. Rather than bemoan Stosurs lack of Grand Slam success, we should be celebrating her fine achievements of recent history in what is an incredibly tough WTA tour. It's also worth pointing out that it is VERY common for tennis players to crack the top 10 and have 1 or 2 years big success, against a back drop of largely average tour results over the balance of their careers. Rather than an indication of 'wasted talent' it is an indication of just how much of a mental game tennis is, and how little there is to separate a top 10 player from a top 50 player. So Sam - well done for NOT wasting your talent and for achieving all that you have achieved.
Rio Salada
Guest
Maybe Sheek. But the real problem with Sam is that she blows hot and cold. Can't seem to hold form from one day to the next. If you watched her beat Iveta Benesova you probably thought you were watching a finalist - great kicking serve, severe backhand, killer forehand and all kinds of confidence. The German Julia Georges was supposed to be a possible stumbling block but then she plays Dulko and Sam's a different person. But Dulko was playing well - she easily handled Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova four and two. Bottom line is, you have to bring your A game to every match in a slam then amp it up when you have to and Sam couldn't do that this year. On to the Big W and let's hope she gets her game together for more than two rounds. Can't see anybody but the screaming Mimi winning Paris. She's playing hardcourt tennis on clay and there's not much opponents can do about it except block their ears.
sheek
Guest
Morning David, The problem with Sam Stosur is she spends far too much time analyzing her game & berating herself for mistakes. What happens eventually is that she becomes so obsessed with the 'why' that she forgets the 'how'. Or is that the other way around.....? Someone should tell her to just go out there & play. It's one thing to think about your game, & how to outmaneuvre your opponents, but you still have to just play it as you see it. Stosur's team mate Alicia Molik suffered the same problem. Listen to their post match interviews, even when they won, & they tie themselves in knots explaining why they did this, or that, or didn't do this, or that.