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.
ian brady
Guest
Sam,encouraging result first round with more variable use of serve from high speed topspin to severe kick to occasional slice to first court to open up the court for your off forehand. Liked the increased use of slice backhand drive as a change of pace weapon although ball trajectory speed and depth of shot were sometimes not sufficient to remain in control of the point...more through the contact line not severe chopping across the line of flight of the oncoming ball. Be careful on excessive early shoulder rotation on cranked up forehand drive.keep up the 100% effort like u always do. Ian b.
Alan
Roar Guru
Great result for Sam. Finally that may install some confidence in her. We all know what happened in the second round last year though... surely not a repeat coming up
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
A great performance from Stosur and she's into the second round of the Australian Open. She got herself into the match early and had an uphill battle in the second but managed to regain composure to break back twice to make it 4-4. From that point there wasn't to much halting her stride. Zakopalova showed streaks of good play but wasn't able to back up her winners with much consistency. The Stosur serve played a big part in her victory today and if she can keep it up in her next few matches than she will give herself a good chance at knocking off the top seeds. Well done Samantha Stosur.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
SAM STOSUR WINS 6-3 6-4 after an hour and a half of play.
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Long backhand exchange and Stosur eventually gets a look at her forehand to bring up two match points 40-15. Stosur 6 5 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Confidence souring now for Stosur and she draws two errors from Zakopalova to go up 0-30. Lucky net court down the other end though..15-30. Stosur 6 5 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Stosur holds and its 5-4 the Australian's way with a fiery home crowd by her side. Stosur 6 5 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Another poor miss on the forehand side from Stosur and it's deuce. Great break point save though from the Australian, some shaky play at the moment from both girls. Sam's ad-40 but it's back to a third deuce after another striking forehand blow from Zakopalova. Stosur 6 4 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Four games all, 15 each, big service game from Stosur here but she shanks two forehands, down 15-30. She brings it back to 30-30 with a big serve followed by another unforced error from Zakopalova, 40-30 in Sam's favour. Stosur 6 4 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Sam digging deep now with some gutsy forehand play down the line 30-30 and a poor backhand volley from Zakopalova brings up a break point for Stosur. She capitalises! Stosur 6 4 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Zakopalova on serve now but if Stosur can force another break here then this match will turn heavily in her favour. 15-15 Stosur 6 3 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
In the past Zakopalova and many others have struggled with the kick on Stosur's serve but the Czech is handling it well. Good hold from Stosur though, forehand too good. Stosur 6 3 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
A poor miss at net after a good approach from Zakopalova but Stosur replies with an error of her own. 40-30 Stosur on serve. Stosur 6 2 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Stosur draws Zakopalova out of the court and crushes a forehand winner down the line, 15-0. Follows with a double fault though 15-15. Stosur 6 2 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
More service breaks from both players to make it 4-2 Zakopalova's way. Stosur 6 2 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Two big forehands from Stosur off the second serve but some crafty play from the other end. 30-30 Stosur 6 1 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Stosur claws it back to deuce but Zakopalova continues to counter the kick serve and oh have the tables turned, up 4-1 in the second with plenty of more tennis to come! Stosur 6 1 Zakopalova 3 4
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Zakopalova brings up her 10th forehand winner for this set alone and two break points 15-40. Stosur 6 1 Zakopalova 3 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
Zakopalova showing signs of frustration now but both players are looking consistent - 15 a piece. Stosur 6 1 Zakopalova 3 3
Charlie Drayton
Roar Guru
The pair exchanging forehand winners but Stosur gets the better of Zakopalova and breaks back to get on the scoreboard in the second set. Stosur 6 1 Zakopalova 3 3