Last Australian in 2015 US Open: Samantha Stosur survives, advances to last 16

Samantha Stosur of Australia defeated Sara Errani of Italy, 7-5 2-6 6-1 in the third round of the 2015 US Open in New York. Stosur is the last Australian standing in the field, both in the men’s and women’s singles competitions, with compatriot Bernard Tomic eliminated last Saturday.

“Yeah, definitely an up-and-down match. Came out playing really great for the first three games, and then lost four. Eventually won that set. And, yeah, would have been pretty disappointed if I ended up losing that first set given how well I had played the start of the set,” Stosur, the 22nd seed in the tournament, said via the tournament’s official website.

“Yeah, kind of lost my way early in that second set, and she kind of, yeah, got control of the match again. Yeah, for the changeover for the third I just kind of sat there and told myself to calm down and, yeah, really talk about what was going on and focus on my service games. I was able to come out and play really well start of the third, and that obviously led to playing well again.”

Stosur had four aces in the opening set and was aggressive with 8 of 10 net points converted against the 16th seed Errani. She broke her opponent’s serve in two of three break chances in the final set, which the Australian dominated in just half an hour. Stosur advanced to the next round, a last 16 match-up with another Italian in Flavia Pennetta, who beat Czech Republic’s Petra Cetkovska, 1-6 6-1 6-4 in her own third round match.

“Yeah, something I have never done before. I have never beaten her before,” Stosur said referring to Pennetta, who holds a perfect 6-0 record against the Australian. The pair met in the Round of 32 of the BNP Paribas Open last March when Pennetta defeated Stosur, 6-4 6-2. “I know that playing against her I find it very difficult. She can take some of my weapons away, which is why I find it hard.”

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