Samantha Stosur leads the field in Brisbane
26-year-old Samantha Stosur of Australia will contest in the $220,000 Brisbane International tennis tournament, along with three other Top 20 players on the WTA tour, which starts on Monday in Australia.
Stosur, who made her debut on the WTA tour back in 2000, is the top seed at the event. She will also be strongly supported by the home crowd in the competition. The Australian previously played in Brisbane, back in 2009; however,
she could not go beyond the second round in the first edition of the tournament. Since then, the right-hander has evolved into one of the very best and most dangerous players on the tour.
The Gold Coast resident started her 2010 campaign by playing at the year’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne. Seeded thirteenth, Stosur got the better of Han Xinyun in the opening round in three sets. The final
match score was 6–1, 3–6, 6–2. It was followed by two other victories over Kristina Barrois and Alberta Brianti in the second and third rounds, respectively, before losing to defending champion Serena Williams in two sets. The score line was 6–4 6–2. Despite
losing, the Australian jumped to the number eleven spot in the world. In the doubles event, Stosur along with her partner Nadia Petrova were seeded fifth; however, the duo was bundled out of the event in the opening round by Anastasia Rodionova and Vera Dushevina.
Stosur, who achieved her career high ranking of world number five last year during the month of July, finished the 2010 season ranked number six on the WTA tour.
After the 2011 Brisbane event, Stosur will take part in the Medibank International Sydney tennis tournament, seeded fourth. Should the Australian perform well in these two events, she could regain her number five spot in the world,
as Venus Williams will not be contesting in either of the two.
Apart from Stosur, Shahar Peer, Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova are the other top seeded players at the Brisbane International in Australia. However, Marion is the only contender in the field who has reached the finals here, back
in 2009.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Alexandra Dulgheru, Alisa Kleybanova, Flavia Pennetta, Jelena Dokic, Anna Chakvetadze and Daniela Hantuchova are also included in the main draw. The opening match of the event will feature Chakvetadze
and Hantuchova against each other on Monday.
Jelena could meet Dulgheru in the second round if both of them make it through their opening round clashes.
The first edition of the Brisbane International took place in 2009. Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka are the two names who have so far won the title. Last year, the Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters got the better of Justine
Henin in the title battle, as Justine retired.
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