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Sam Stosur is readying herself for a challenging first-round meeting at Melbourne Park against one of the most unique talents on tour.
The top-ranked Australian faces Romanian Monica Niculescu in her Melbourne Park opener, known for her two-handed forehand and wide range of weapons.
Stosur will rely on coach Simon Rea to imitate Niculescu’s distinctive style in preparation for Tuesday’s match.
But more than practice, Stosur says the match is likely to be won or lost with her level of concentration.
“There’s probably no one else like Monica,” she said.
“She’s very creative and more crafty than maybe most of the other players out there.
“She’s a very different player to a lot of different players on the tour, she likes to slice the ball a lot, slice the forehand even.
“She’ll serve and volley a little bit, she’ll come into the net, she’s very fast, moves well.
“It’s going to be a lot about concentrating hard and knowing that it’s going to be some funky stuff going on out there, and what I’m going to try to do to combat that.”
Despite a lack of on-court time, the Australian Open’s 20th-seed said there was plenty to take from her sole victory of the Australian summer.
Stosur beat 16th-ranked Lucie Safarova in a gutsy three-set victory in the first round of the Sydney International 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 6-3.
“I’d like to have more matches like that,” she said.
“To get over the line against Lucie after losing to her the last seven times, to serve out the match the way I did, play the way I did, fight the way I did, I’m really pleased with that.”
Stosur said she was really happy with her movement, ball-hitting and level of competition shown so far this season.
But the greatest relief may be that she enters the Open injury-free.
The back half of Stosur’s 2014 season was interrupted by a painful foot injury that required time on the couch.
A slow training build-up has produced the desired result: problem-free movement.
“I can do everything on court, not hesitate about my movement or anything like that,” she said.
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