2010 French Open finalist, and Australian, Sam Stosur, begins her 2014 campaign tonight as she takes on Puerto Rican Monica Puig in the opening round at Roland Garros.
Join us for live scores and commentary from 10:30pm AEST.
Stosur is Australia’s best chance of success at Roland Garros this year and is the nation’s highest ranked player in the draw at world number 20.
As a result she is the 19th seed for the event; the only one Australia has in both main draws.
Stosur faces a tough task in round 1 as she faces the 56th ranked Puig who has been in stellar form over the last two weeks.
She was beaten by the winner – Maria Sharapova – in Rome before claiming her first WTA title last week in Strasbourg.
The Puerto Rican also holds no fears of Grand Slams or seeds at those events.
Last year she excelled on that stage.
At Roland Garros in 2013, her debut in the main draw at Grand Slam level, she defeated the 11th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets.
Puig would make the third round, losing to Carla Suarez Navarro.
She repeated the performance in Wimbledon when she defeated the fifth seed, Sara Errani, in a dominant performance on grass.
Puig would make the fourth round and be defeated by Sloane Stephens in three sets.
If Stosur underestimates Puig then she cause the upset tonight.
She thrives on being the underdog and punching above her weight and height.
Stosur on the other hand, as illustrated in Australia, struggles to cope with pressure and loses concentration at critical moments.
This hasn’t happened at the French Open before and the Australian plays well in Paris.
Two semi-finals and a final show that on her favourite surface and event.
Her form leading into the event has also been good over the last two weeks.
In Madrid, she made the third round, before losing to Maria Sharapova.
In Rome, she lost to the 2011 French Open champion in Li Na in the third round.
I expect Stosur to be too strong for Puig but it will go to 3 sets and be close.
Her serve and her forehand are critical to the match and can trouble the Puerto Rican.
She also needs to start well to gain confidence in herself early.
This is the first meeting between the two players.
Stosur to win in three sets but it will be a nail biting match between the two and Puig can certainly win tonight.
southendaussies
Guest
That is it from me. I'll be back later today when Bernard Tomic faces Richard Gasquet.
southendaussies
Guest
Stosur then breaks to love to progress to the second round at Roland Garros. Sam Stosur defeats Monica Puig 6-1 6-1. The match was closer than the score line but Stosur was fantastic today. Hardly any unforced errors and a solid serving performance. Good signs for the tournament.
southendaussies
Guest
Stosur then holds serve to 30 to make it 5-1. She is one game away from the 2nd round.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Puig is on the board in the 2nd set but is behind 4-1. She keeps the pressure on Stosur.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Ash Barty, meanwhile, loses the first set 6-2 to Alize Cornet.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur just has all the answers as she survives two break points to lead 4-0. Puig had chances to break but just couldn't get the decisive winner to claim it. The end of the match could come quickly if Puig loses concentration.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur breaks again and is dominant on Puig's serve. That is her fourth break in the match and she races to a 3-0 lead. Puig has won just 3 points out of 10 on serve in this set. 5 unforced errors haven't helped either.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur survives 0-30 and holds serve to lead 2-0. She's right on top in this match and feeling very confident. Puig is going to have to do something soon to save this match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Ash Barty is also in action against Alize Cornet. The news isn't great with the Aussie down 4-1 in the opening set. She is down a double break in the opening set.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur starts the 2nd set as she started the 1st. She breaks Puig in her opening service game. Stosur is giving Puig nothing and making clean winners as well. This included a wonderful forehand down the line to win the break. Puig had two more unforced errors in the opening game.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
STATS: Stosur 18/26 on 1st serve - winning 67% Puig 7/17 on 1st serve - winning 43% Unforced Errors: Stosur 5, Puig 13 Winners: Stosur 10, Puig 8 Stosur is hitting the ball well and her serve is strong. The kicking serve is working a treat today.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Sam Stosur takes the first set, 6-1, in just 28 minutes. A far closer set than what the scoreline suggests. Puig just didn't deliver on serve and made too many unforced errors.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur breaks against and races to a 5-1 lead. Her game is worrying Puig but the Puerto Rican isn't helping her cause with only 7/17 first serves and 11 unforced errors.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur gets taken to deuce again on her serve but holds to lead 4-1. The Australian is doing enough at the moment and Puig is not in the form she was in last week. Stosur needs to capitalise on it now and take the full momentum from it.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Puig is on the board as Stosur leads 3-1 in the opening set. Puig has hit 5 winners and made 8 unforced errors. She is dictating when the point finishes. At the moment her winners are just falling short.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
The strapping on Stosur's calf is from a severe cut she got just before the match. Thankfully it isn't troubling her so far.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur holds serve with ease and races to a 3-0 lead. Perfect start by the Australian. Serve is also looking good. It is kicking nicely and she is making plenty of 1st serves.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur pounces on a poor service game from Puig. Puig went 1 from 5 on 1st serve and made four unforced errors in the game to hand Stosur the break. The Puerto Rican needs to make more first serves to be a chance.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A long service game for Stosur as she holds serve to deuce. Puig didn't gain a break point chance but pressured Stosur all the way. Important hold for the Aussie.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur has some heavy strapping on her calf. Will be interesting to see how that affects her during the match. Players are warming up now with play not far away. Puig, as a result of her win in Strasbourg, went from 56 to 41 in the rankings. A tough opponent for Stosur. This is set to be a cracking match.