After ending her home soil hoodoo on Monday with a win over Taiwan’s Kai-Chen Chang, Sam Stosur will continue her quest for back-to-back home wins when she takes on China’s Jie Zheng. Join us for live scores and commentary on the match this afternoon.
As most of you will well and truly know, Stosur has certainly had a tough time of late, unable to win her past six matches on home turf – before Monday.
Her performance against Chang in the first round was encouraging but at number 86 in the world, you would’ve expected Stosur to triumph.
Zheng however is a different story. Although currently ranked at number 40, Zheng has been as high as 15 in the world back in 2009 and has had some great wins against the Australian.
Stosur currently leads their head-to-head 3-2 but Zheng takes the honours so far this year after defeating the 2011 US Open champion in Sydney last week.
Zheng is known for her quick speed and incredible consistency and will certainly trouble Stosur. Although not an extremely strong player, Zheng has a knack for knowing exactly where to place her shots and her intellect and willingness to change up her game plans certainly makes up for that limited strength.
She also has tremendous footwork and excellent court coverage, so much so that some journalists have labelled her ‘The Great Wall of China’.
Zheng’s serve is arguably her biggest weakness and this is something that Stosur definitely has to take advantage of if she is to win.
Sam has amazing penetrable power and can easily out do Zheng in the winner department. Additionally her killer serve, deemed one of the best in the women’s game, needs to be on song as it will undoubtedly be her weapon in the match.
On paper Sam should win this, but her inability to handle pressure and close out matches could be her biggest downfall. She is likely to have the defeat in Sydney last week on her mind and of course her poor record at home certainly won’t help her cause.
However she needs to stay composed and relaxed, and go for her shots. If she can do that, she should come out on top in a tight three-set battle.
Alan
Roar Guru
Geez that must have been tough to watch for Aussies everywhere. Can Stosur bounce back from this?
Johnno
Guest
Another choke Sammy stosur, But in saying that Zhang has a a lot of class shots, and has reached no 9 in the world. Still Sam won a grand slam, and beat Serena Williams to do it. Zhang is maybe a bit like Tipsareic, surprised us all. But Sam Stousr to be honest has always been a limited player, in her game. She has a decent forehand but is predictable, and lacks the wide range of shots. Schiavone really exposed Sam at the French open in 2010, a play with a far wider game and wide range of shots.
ayoung
Roar Guru
Way too many errors coming off the Stosur racquet today and she just couldn't control the consistency of Zheng. Sad to see her go out after such an encouraging performance in the second set. She really has to work on that mental strength of hers and having the ability to close it out when needed. It's clearly what lost her the game.. Great work by Zheng. After that poor performance in the second she never gave up and showed guts and grit to get over the line. Sam could learn a lot from here in that department. Anyway, as we move on to the third round it'll be Zheng up against 18th seed Julia Georges from Germany after she beat Romina Oprani earlier. Hope you all had an enjoyable time, despite the result. See you next time!
Wilson Flatley
Roar Rookie
what a choker... whenever she has a chance she sends one into the stands... quite depressing
ayoung
Roar Guru
GAME SET MATCH ZHENG - 6-4 1-6 7-5 Sam of all things double faults to give Zheng the match. Really sums up that last set for the Aussie who just mentally couldn't get back in it after the second set. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 7
ayoung
Roar Guru
Zheng going at it with everything and she now has two match points as she goes from corner to corner and sends a lovely forehand winner down the line. 15-40. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 6
ayoung
Roar Guru
Zheng hands Stosur an absolute gift as she misses an easy forehand volley. 15-30. COuld have been three match points. Sam still in it. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 6
ayoung
Roar Guru
It's 0-30 as Stosur miss hits another backhand into the tram lines. Is that loss last week playing on her mind right now? You wonder... Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 6
ayoung
Roar Guru
Nice backhand winner which wrong foots Stosur hands her the first point. 0-15. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 6
ayoung
Roar Guru
It's all Zheng at the moment who has rallied off four consecutive games to go up 6-5 in the third. Sam just unable to get it right in the head at the moment. Are we witnessing yet again another missed opportunity by the Aussie number one? Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 6
ayoung
Roar Guru
Beautiful return by Sam and it's 40-30. By cry of 'C'mon' by the Aussie. Can she control it? Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 5
ayoung
Roar Guru
Oh Sam! Move your feet!! Shanked yet another second serve out wide and its not 40-15. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 5
ayoung
Roar Guru
Right idea by Sam but she's unable to put a simple volley away, instead putting it into the net. Not a good sign... 30-15. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 5
ayoung
Roar Guru
Sam loses the first point with another forehand wide and vents her frustration out loud. 15-0. Zheng sends a forehand long though and its 15 all. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 5
ayoung
Roar Guru
BREAK ZHENG - Sam can't control the power hitting of Zheng and forces the ball wide once again. Game Zheng. Big momentum swing now back into the Chinese hands. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 5
ayoung
Roar Guru
Zheng hits another blinder of a return and it catches the frame of Sam's racquet to go flying into the crowd.. pressure mounting. you can feel the tension! Break point Zheng. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 4
ayoung
Roar Guru
Zheng hitting some big shots but this time it was too much as she pushes a strong forehand long. 30-15. Zheng hits an excellent return though and forces Sam to miss the ball and send it long. 30-30. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 3
ayoung
Roar Guru
Surprisingly bad footwork by Zheng forces her to put a backhand in the net and its 15-0. But at sloppy shot, once again another framer from Sam pushes a forehand long and its 15-15. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 4
ayoung
Roar Guru
It's make or break for Sam right here..
ayoung
Roar Guru
Sam tries to pelt the ball on the return of serve but miss times it to give Zheng the game point. Zheng converts by wrong footing Sam on the forehand side forcing her to hit a wayward shots that hits the corner post of the net and rebound off. Game Zheng. Stosur 4 6 5 Zheng 6 1 4