Can Sam Stosur bounce back from her early exit at the Brisbane International with a 1st round win today against Lucie Safaraova at the Sydney International? Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from around 12:00pm AEDT.
After losing to Varvara Lepchenko in Brisbane in the opening round, Stosur has the chance to make amends with a win today in Sydney.
In Brisbane she didn’t help her cause of not playing well in Australia. At 5-1 up in the final set, Stosur had a match point, but she couldn’t take it against Lepchenko.
What followed was a capitulation as the Australian lost six straight games to lose the match. It wasn’t a result Stosur needed, and wanted, as she tries to overcome a poor record in Australia.
She now heads to Sydney, a venue that used to provide success for the Queenslander. In 2005, as a wildcard, Stosur made the final as she was defeated by Alicia Molik in three sets.
Since then the Sydney event has been a struggle for her. In seven other appearances, she has been eliminated in the first round five times.
This has included first round exits in her last two years in 2012 and 2013. Last year she played at the Hobart International and made the semi-finals.
Today she plays against an opponent who could make it three straight first round losses at the Ken Rosewall Arena.
She faces Lucie Safarova who holds a dominant head to head record against the Australian. In eleven meetings between the two, Safarova has won nine of them, with Stosur only winning twice against the left hander.
In the last six matches, Safarova has won all of them, with five of them being in straight sets. The last win by Stosur over Safarova was in 2012 in Dubai.
With the form the Czech player is in, it will be tough for Stosur to break that three year drought.
Safarova played at the Hopman Cup last week and was impressive in all three of her matches. She smashed Eugenie Bouchard 6-0 6-4 in her first match before beating Flavia Pennetta 7-5 6-3 in the second tie.
Against the world number 1, Serena Williams, Safarova lost a tight three set match to finish her campaign at the Perth event.
She will be hard to beat today.
Another problem for Stosur is her form against left handers. In recent matches she has struggled against them because her serve goes to the forehand of the left handers.
Against right handers she has an advantage as her service weapons are hit to their backhand. This changes to the forehand against the lefties, and gives them the advantage.
She will face that problem against Safarova who is a good returner.
This promises to be a big match for Stosur. If she is any chance of winning today, her nerves and pressure of Australia need to disappear.
That is easier said than done but it needs to happen. She also needs to serve well and dictate the play at the baseline.
Plenty of winners from her racquet will hand her the win today. Safarova is the favourite today with the bookies and she is my prediction for the match.
Her form at the start of 2015 has been impressive. Her record against Stosur is also outstanding.
When you combine that with the form of Stosur in Australia, it is hard to see the Australian winning.
Prediction: Lucie Safarova 2-0
Alan
Roar Guru
Good good win for Stosur. Tough. She can win this if she believes
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is all from me today. Thanks for joining in on the coverage and I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time it is bye for now. Bye.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THOUGHTS - For the first time in seven meetings Stosur has beaten Lucie Safarova in a WTA event. Everything was against Stosur today. The weather, the conditions, her record in Sydney, and her record against Safarova were all against her today. Against those odds, Stosur won the match, and played well. Her serve was impressive when it counted. That was difference in the match. When Stosur struggled on the serve, Safarova was on top. When Safarova struggled, Stosur came out on top. Stosur won the first and final sets when she was dominant on serve. Safarova won the second set when Stosur struggled on her serve. Double faults hurt both girls dearly in the match. They had 19 between them in the match. This was an important win for Stosur. It takes pressure off her by the media and the fans. It also gives her one win before the Australian Open. Up next for her is either a meeting against Caroline Wozniacki or Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. She can beat both players on her day. For today though she can relax as a 1st round winner in Sydney.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
MATCH STATS - Aces - Safarova 6 Stosur 14 Double Faults - Safarova 10 Stosur 9 1st serve % - Safarova 56 Stosur 56 1st serve points won - Safarova 46/64 Stosur 47/68 2nd serve points won - Safarova 21/50 Stosur 28/53 Break Points saved - Safarova 9/13 Stosur 13/17
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That was a match full of grit and determination. Impressive from Stosur. That will make the doubters quiet for a while.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
ACE!!! Stosur DOES IT. She defeats Lucie Safarova. Incredible match from Stosur. STOSUR 7 5 6 SAFAROVA 6 7 3
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Two match points for Stosur. 40-15.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
A long backhand return from Safarova. Stosur has 30-0.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
So far so good. 15-0.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Another double fault gives Stosur the game. The Aussie will now serve for the match. Can she do it? STOSUR 7 5 5 SAFAROVA 6 7 3
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
15-40 to Stosur. Another double fault from Safarova gives Stosur the chance.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
The match was also delayed by about 30 minutes. That was included in the counting of the minutes.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
0-15 as Stosur wins the first point of the 8th game.
Turnover
Roar Guru
3 hours? That's pretty epic for a first round womens match!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Great hold for Stosur. She holds to love and leads 4-3 in the final set. The match has almost gone for 3 hours. STOSUR 7 5 4 SAFAROVA 6 7 3
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova holds. 3 games all. STOSUR 7 5 3 SAFAROVA 6 7 3
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Stosur had the point won. She had the chance to hit the winner for a break point. Instead she hits a forehand long and gives Safarova a game point.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova has another game point but it is saved by Stosur. Deuce.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Completely agree. A win today would be huge for her confidence.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Safarova wins the next point but Stosur forces the game to deuce. Deuce.