Schiavone upsets Stosur
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
SYDNEY, Jan 9 (AFP): Francesca Schiavone upset US Open champion Samantha Stosur's preparations for next week's Australian Open with a straight sets opening round win at the Sydney International on Monday.
The Italian matched home favourite Stosur's power with aggression to secure a 6-2, 6-4 win in 90 minutes in the feature match on Ken Rosewall Arena.
The loss followed Stosur's second-round exit from the Brisbane International last week and has left the world number six short of match practice heading into the season's first grand slam starting in Melbourne on Monday.
Schiavone, ranked 11, has been a tricky opponent for Stosur, beating her in the 2010 French Open final and in last year's Fed Cup tie in Australia.
"I think I was really aggressive, and she couldn't play her game at the best," said Schiavone, who next plays Daniela Hantuchova.
"You have to play at a top level, and I think it's not easy for her to play here in Australia. I think to play at home, when you love something, is tough to catch it.
"For the Australian Open it will be different. She has big power and big shoulders to do it."
Stosur, who mastered Serena Williams in last year's US Open final, said she failed to cope with the centre court crowd's expectations.
"I think today I certainly didn't handle that side of things at all well," Stosur said.
The Italian matched home favourite Stosur's power with aggression to secure a 6-2, 6-4 win in 90 minutes in the feature match on Ken Rosewall Arena.
The loss followed Stosur's second-round exit from the Brisbane International last week and has left the world number six short of match practice heading into the season's first grand slam starting in Melbourne on Monday.
Schiavone, ranked 11, has been a tricky opponent for Stosur, beating her in the 2010 French Open final and in last year's Fed Cup tie in Australia.
"I think I was really aggressive, and she couldn't play her game at the best," said Schiavone, who next plays Daniela Hantuchova.
"You have to play at a top level, and I think it's not easy for her to play here in Australia. I think to play at home, when you love something, is tough to catch it.
"For the Australian Open it will be different. She has big power and big shoulders to do it."
Stosur, who mastered Serena Williams in last year's US Open final, said she failed to cope with the centre court crowd's expectations.
"I think today I certainly didn't handle that side of things at all well," Stosur said.