Stosur: "E' Serena l'unica da battere" (The Australian)

26-08-2012

SAMANTHA Stosur may be the defending US Open champion, but she has little hesitation in rating Serena Williams the deserving favourite to complete a stunning year with victory in New York over the next fortnight.

The Australian, who opens proceedings on Arthur Ashe Stadium early on Tuesday morning against Petra Martic, thrashed the 14-time grand slam winner to claim her maiden major title at Flushing Meadows.

But she said the American's recent dominance at Wimbledon and the Olympics, combined with her overall excellence on hard courts, made her the player to beat in the year's last major.

“I think Serena is probably the favourite coming in given her recent form,” Stosur said.

“No matter who you are, I don't think you can really deny that.”

Nor is the 28-year-old alone in her assessment of Williams' claims.

Kim Clijsters has won the past three US Open's she has played - an abdominal injury forced her absence from the tournament won by Stosur - yet rated the American the best to ever play the game during a press conference earlier today in New York. Maria Sharapova, who fell to her in London, did not disagree.

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“She's certainly proven that,” she said.

“I mean, I didn't get to be a part of the generation with Steffi and Monica, so it's tough (but) she's such a great athlete out on the court. I mean, she's won how many Grand Slams already? An amazing accomplishment, singles and doubles.”

Williams, for her part, has no qualms with carrying favouritism.

“You have to embrace it. I embrace it. Hopefully I can prepare and do my best here,” she said.

“I don't feel pressure. My dad said the only pressure you have is the pressure you put on yourself, so I don't really feel any pressure or anything.”

Stosur has practiced on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the court she performed so magnificently a year ago, in the lead-up to her first-round clash against Petra Martic and said it brought back some great memories.

“That was really nice to walk back out onto that court and little things kind of pop into your mind as you're walking out there again,” she said.

“It was great to get out there. Probably the forehand winner I hit on match point, that was the one thing that came back probably first.”

The other four Australian women aside from Stosur - Casey Dellacqua, Jarmila Gaijdosova, Olivia Rogowska and Anastasia Rodionova - also play on Tuesday morning, Australian time, while Matthew Ebden and Marinko Matosevic are also in action on the opening day.

Bernard Tomic and Lleyton Hewitt, who practiced together earlier today, are yet to be scheduled for their opening matches.