- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Aussie Sam Stosur is one match away from reaching her second French Open final, but in her way is the giant-killing Italian Sara Errani. Join us for live scores and commentary from 10:00pm AEST.
After a disappointing performance at the Australian Open earlier this year, Stosur has rediscovered her best form on the clay courts of Paris and is well on course to reach her second French Open decider.
Stosur has yet to drop a set at the French Open thus far and has an imposing 5-0 winning record against semi-final opponent Errani.
The Australian’s last victory over Errani came at this year’s Rome Masters where she won a difficult encounter 6-3, 7-5.
Despite her dominant record against Errani, Stosur must be braced for an onslaught from the Italian, who is in career best form.
Errani has already dispatched former French Open champions Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova this week, and also knocked out no. 10 seed Angelique Kerber of Germany.
Stosur, meanwhile, has had the easier draw to the semi-finals, but her supremacy over her recent opponents has to be desired.
The Australian usually struggles with favouritism but her recent performances thus far suggest that she is coping with expectations well.
Stosur’s straight sets victories over Elena Baltacha, Irina Falconi, Nadia Petrova, Sloane Stephens and Dominika Cibulkova showcases that she is now able to put her foot on the accelerator and finish off her lower ranked opponents quickly.
Prediction:
Stosur will start favourite against Errani tonight but don’t be surprised if this match ends up going the distance.
Errani’s movement around the court has been a key feature of her recent success, and she will look to frustrate Stosur’s ball striking by producing lengthy rallies.
Stosur on the other hand will look to keep rallies short. At her best, no player on the WTA tour hits the ball as cleanly as Stosur, particularly off the forehand side.
If Stosur is able to find her range from the baseline, the Australian should have enough firepower to control proceedings against Errani.
In a match of contrasting styles, this promises to be an intense and closely fought French Open semi-final.
Stosur has the power and experience but Errani has confidence given that she has already produced several upset victories this week.
Although the Italian’s movement will test Stosur, the Australian has enough in her arsenal to secure a tough semi-final victory.
Stosur in three sets.