Sam Stosur will be looking to make the fourth round of the US Open for the first time since 2012 when she takes on Italian Sara Errani in the third round. Join The Roar for a live blog of the match from 2am AEST.
Not since making the quarters in 2012 has Stosur made it this far at the US Open. The 2011 champion has only made the second round, and first round, in her other appearances in 2013 and 2014. Now the Queenslander has a big opportunity to go far.
A win today, after the shock loss by Caroline Wozniacki, gives Stosur a match-up against an opponent ranked lower than her in the next round. That will either be Flavia Pennetta or Petra Cetkovska, who battle today.
The focus for Stosur though will be getting past an opponent she has struggled against in recent times.
Overall the Aussie leads 5-2 but has lost the last two matches to Errani.
In three set contests, at the French Open and the WTA championships in 2012, the Italian was victorious. Before that though, the Aussie dominated, with four straight-sets wins.
So far the Australian hasn’t been troubled as she has made the third round with two straight-sets wins. She has lost just nine games in the process.
This included a 6-1 6-1 over Evgeniya Rodina in the last round. Impressively Stosur won 92 per cent of her points on her first serve, hit eight aces, and won 60 per cent of receiving points.
If she does that against Errani, the Aussie won’t have any problems against the Italian.
With Errani being one of the smallest players on the tour, the serve of Stosur will be pivotal today. Her top spin and slice from the serve can put Errani in uncomfortable positions. This allows the Australian to win plenty of free points and put her opponent under pressure on her serve.
Her power will also be vital as she moves Errani around the court. Making the Italian move, and hit loads of shots, will be important today.
Stosur is the favourite, and deserves to be so, after her start to the tournament. Errani also conceded a bagel in her last match. This is a perfect match-up for Stosur, and I fully expect her to capitalise on it.
She will win and make the second week of the US Open for the first time in three years.
Prediction – Stosur in two sets.
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This is where I leave the blog. Scores are up above. Fingers crossed Stosur can bounce back to what she did late in the 1st set.
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Stosur hits two shots into the net and Errani has the 2nd set. The Australian has capitulated in the last 10 minutes. STOSUR 7 2 ERRANI 5 6
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Errani has 30-15 and is two points away from a deicing set.
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Errani has hit 10 winners in this set. She has matched Stosur in this area.
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A long forehand from Stosur gives Errani a 5-2 lead. She will serve for the 2nd set. STOSUR 7 2 ERRANI 5 5
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Wonderful slice at the net from Errani. She has a break point for a 5-2 lead. 30-40.
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A double fault from Stosur gives Errani a chance to break. She has 15-30.
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The momentum has shifted again.
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Errani plays a serve volley point and wins it to give herself a game point. The Italian then holds serve and leads 4-2 in the 2nd set. STOSUR 7 2 ERRANI 5 4
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Errani has a game point but serves a double fault. Deuce.
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A forehand error costs Stosur. Deuce.
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Stosur attacks a first serve, and forces the error from Errani. She has another break point.
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Errani's 1st serves have dropped dramatically. Stosur has a chance here at 30-30 to break again.
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An ace gives Stosur the game and it is 3-2. Errani still has one more break up her sleeve. STOSUR 7 2 ERRANI 5 3
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Stosur hits an ace, and a nonreturnable serve, to move to 40-15.
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And the momentum shifts again. Stosur breaks and is on the board in the 2nd set. STOSUR 7 1 ERRANI 5 3
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A double fault to Errani gives Stosur two break back points. 15-40 to the Queenslander.
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Stosur now races to 0-30 in the next game on Errani's serve.
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Errani hits a lob over Stosur's head and break again. She leads 3-0 in the 2nd set. STOSUR 7 0 ERRANI 5 3
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A forehand goes long from Stosur. Errani has another break point.