It’s been a long time between drinks and the Australian tennis public is more dehydrated than the Snoopy-spotting Frank Dancevic.
But we’ve been here before haven’t we, Sam Stosur?
To be fair, it hasn’t always been your fault. Australia has been desperate for a native to win our home slam since the 70s.
So desperate in fact, we’ve tried to claim others as our own – ‘Aussie Kim’ and ‘Aussie Ana’ spring to mind.
What makes matters worse is we’ve barely had a contender in the past few decades.
Some have come close on occasions. Pat Cash made the final in 87 and 88, while Lleyton Hewitt fell at the final hurdle to Marat Safin in 2005.
Others have had moments of fleeting glory. In 1996, Mark Philippoussis took down then-world number one Pete Sampras in the third round, only to follow that up with a straight sets loss to Mark Woodforde, who on this occasion was playing by himself for some reason.
Clichéd as it may be, Stosur’s career has been one of ups and downs.
A smattering of thumping wins meshed with inexplicable losses; of unplayable winners and comically shanked forehands into row five.
A US Open win back in 2011 was the obvious high point. In fact, there have been quite a few high points.
Stosur is probably a better player than she is given credit for, particularly on the European clay and US hard court swings of the tour. It’s just we have come to expect a lot when we know she is capable of downing one of the game’s greats on the biggest stage in world tennis.
Sadly, Stosur has failed to replicate those heights on home soil.
Dealing with an expectant crowd and the increased media spotlight have clearly been behind this lack of success. A fourth round appearance at Melbourne Park in 2010 was her best effort to date.
Now though, we sense the tide may have turned. Under the (almost literal) blowtorch of Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night, Stosur was clinical in dispatching the in-form Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-0 to advance to the third round.
Next, she’ll face the aforementioned ‘Aussie Ana’, with whom she has a favourable 4-3 career record.
If she can get through this match, Serena Williams will most likely await. Daunting but winnable, and from there, the draw opens up.
We’re now firmly aboard the Sam Stosur roller-coaster, but at the same time all too aware it can derail at any moment.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
They suspend play on outside courts when the roofs are closed so that's not an issue. As for pushing the tournament back, it will never happen as TA wouldn't allow it. Too much money at stake to risk moving it away from the holiday season.
Paulus of Sydneygrad
Guest
Unfortunately our hopes were let down again tonight. But Aussie Ana was extra good from the late in the second set on. Sam didn't respond to the lift in Ana's game. But what about the heat issue? Should we expect athletes to perform at anything near optimum in 40+ temperatures day after day. And where's the equity in some playing in a closed & air-conditioned RLA while others are outside being fried? Should the Aust Open be moved back a couple of months? Your views please.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
I think Sam has a better chance of beating Serena, but getting past Ivanovic first will be tough.
Avatar
Roar Guru
It will be a tough match for both Stosur and Ivanovic. Serena awaits in round four so both players will want to show their best form. Ivanovic in particular has been playing very well. She beat Venus Williams to win in Auckland and was superb in her win against Annika Beck, Stosur likewise against Tsvetana Pironkova, who had come out of qualifying to win Sydney. If it's Ivanovic who beats Stosur tonight, then she will enter the Serena match with all the confidence in the world, though I still think Serena will be too strong.
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
If you're a keen tennis fan, the Foxtel coverage is excellent. Thought I suppose if the FTA networks thought RG and US Open would rate they'd broadcast it.
Chop
Roar Guru
That's probably something to do with it Adam. The WTA is all over Eurosport and occasionally on ESPN but FTA coverage of tennis is essentially as you say, January and Wimbledon. I'm hope (but not expect) media to have a little more knowledge of the sport before they criticise to much though....
Adam
Guest
Could part of that be due to tennis being massive in January, but almost non-existent in Australia for the rest of the year? Stosur hasn't played that well in Oz or Wimbledon (really the only other tournament shown on FTA) so those results seem to be front of mind when assessing her performances.
Chop
Roar Guru
I think the media bashing of Stosur is ridiculous. There's no mention of her when she's winning tournaments, but lose in the first round of a grand slam and the boots come out. Now she's playing someone seeded higher but she does have a real chance against. Ivanovic does not have an overpowering weapon that can hurt Stosur so the game will be on her racquet because she has three weapons that can take the match from Ivanovic. Her serve, her forehand (especially when playing Ivanovic's second serve) and her volleying. I hope Stosur uses her forehand to bury Ivanovic deep in the court and then attack the net. If she can limit her unforced errors, she's a big chance. Unfortunately, if she beats Ivanovic, she faces Serena who just looks unstopable right now....