Forget recent form, Stosur is on the charge

Despite her horror run of recent form Sam Stosur is ready to make a real run at the Australian Open, according to Channel 7 tennis host Mark Beretta.

Stosur has never made it past the fourth round of her home grand slam and has lost her previous five matches on Australian soil.

This on the back of recent ankle surgery and a lack of game time points at another disappointing start and finish to her Australian Open campaign.

Not so though, says Beretta.

“Sam is in a lot better shape than most people think she is,” he said.

“She has fixed that ankle up and that has given her more confidence.

“People talking about her recent form saying she is not playing well, I actually think she has been really wise about the way she has come back.

“You don’t want to over exert an ankle that is still building strength, so why do it early in Sydney and Brisbane. It’s the Oz Open that is the big picture and she has her eyes on the prize there.

“And in truth I have never seen Sam looking so confident and relaxed heading into the tournament.”

Standing in her way is the No.86 ranked player Kai-Chen Chang from Chinese Taipei.

Although Chang has never been passed the second round in her three previous Australian Open bids se will no doubt provide Stosur with a stern challenge.

In fact the pair have met once before and Chang beat Stosur in three sets just two months ago in Osaka.
But Beretta has no doubt Stosur will move through today.

“Sam is looking great, she will get through it just fine and hopefully it is the start of a great Open for her.”

Stosur’s clash will be live from Rod Laver Arena on Channel 7 following the opening game of Maria Sharapova and Olga Puchkova which begins at 11am today.