Stosur still positive despite Brisbane loss

Updated January 05, 2012 08:17:47

US Open champion Sam Stosur brushed off another second-round loss at the Brisbane International as just a bad day with her primary focus on the Australian Open later this month.

Czech Iveta Benesova cut Stosur down to size with a 6-4, 6-2 win in just 70 minutes on Pat Rafter Arena.

In all three appearances at the Brisbane International, Stosur, 27, has never advanced past the second round.

This time, the world number six lost to an opponent ranked 48 places lower and who had never beaten her or taken a set off the Australian in four previous matches.

"Hopefully it was just a bad day and I will bounce back next week and the week after," Stosur said.

"Of course it's disappointing. I never wanted to go out in this round again.

"I don't want to dwell on it.

"It's back to the practise court and keep working hard and do whatever I can to set up myself up for the summer.

"It's not the ideal start but I am not going to panic and think it's all lost."

Benesova, 28, denies Stosur a heavyweight quarter-final clash and a perfect summer tune-up with reigning Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters.

Instead, Stosur will head to Sydney on Thursday to start preparing for the Sydney International, while Benesova settles for a second straight clash with a major titleholder.

Having defeated Stosur, Benesova says she holds no fears for any further clashes with the US Open champion.

"It was a great turnaround for me and I believe I can do it next time against Sam as well," Benesova said.

"She had trouble with my left serve and she did not break me once in the match."

Stosur paid tribute to Benesova's game plan while acknowledging she did not play anywhere near her best.

"I want to always give credit to an opponent but I didn't feel I did what I was capable of," she said.

It was clear from the start Stosur was off her game when she lost the first three points before rallying to win her opening service game.

In many ways, her form on Wednesday resembled the way she played 12 months ago when she was also the top seed and a second-round casualty to compatriot Jarmila Gajdosova.

Stosur, who was playing her first tournament on home soil since winning the US Open last year, was never able to get into full rhythm and had 20 unforced errors, eight more than Benesova.

AAP

Tags: sport, tennis, australia, qld, brisbane-4000

First posted January 04, 2012 15:21:54

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Stosur positive despite loss

Updated April 24, 2011 09:23:00

Australia's Samantha Stosur said she has taken plenty of positives from her performances in Stuttgart, despite losing Saturday's semi-final to Germany's Julia Goerges.

Goerges became the first German for 15 years to reach the final of Stuttgart's WTA tournament when she inflicted a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over fifth-seed Stosur.

Goerges will meet Caroline Wozniacki in the final after the world number one disposed of Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5, 6-3.

Stosur, who went onto reach the French Open final last year after losing to Justine Henin in the 2010 Stuttgart final, said she was disappointed, but also happy to have again reached the last four this year.

"I am obviously disappointed to have lost the match, but it is encouraging to have come here and played well," said the 27-year-old.

"I probably haven't played with this much confidence all year, I have come through and played four good matches.

"It is disappointing to lose, but it is definitely something I can build on."

Stosur will now play the Madrid Open, which starts on April 30, and the Rome tournament, May 9-15, before she focuses on the French Open, which starts in Paris on May 22.

Wins in Stuttgart over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Daniela Hantuchova on clay put Stosur into the last eight before she picked up a valuable win over second seed and world number three Vera Zvonareva in the quarter-finals.

"It's an important time of year coming up for me now," said Stosur.

"I think I have taken a step in the right direction towards playing where I was going into the French Open last year."

With top stars Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters both struggling with injuries, Stosur is amongst the favourites at Roland Garros this year, but the Australian played down her tag.

"It's nice that people have confidence in me, but the French is nearly a month away and there are still things I need to improve before then," she said.

"Even with Kim and Serena two out of the draw, you still have the number one and three players in the world, plus everyone else going into the rest of the draw.

"I have had good results there last year, but you have to start from scratch again.

"Winning your first round match is the most important thing and I hope I can do so well there again."

- AAP

First posted April 24, 2011 08:43:00

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