Australian Open pressure set to start for Stosur

Sep 12, 2011, 1:17 GMT

New York - As the first women's US Open champion from Australia in nearly 40 years, Samantha Stosur is starting to realise that the stakes have just risen for her tennis after winning the title at the weekend. Stosur's straight-sets defeat of Serena Williams marked the first New York title for an Aussie since Margaret Court in 1973. The 38-year gap was finally filed as Stosur powered three straight forehand winners past Williams to take the title over the American whose concentration was blown out by a rude tirade she launched at the Greek chair umpire over a second-set point penalty.

Stosur ignored the ruckus and kept her mind on the job to hand.

Now, the 27-year-old Queenslander has become the third first-time winner this season at the majors. And it's never too early for expectations to build for the Australian Open in four months - even before the fact.

'Obviously it's very different being at home now and playing at the Australian Open,' said Stosur, who has never been past the fourth round in Melbourne. 'I've definitely had different pressures playing there in the past and from my success overseas. 'But I know it's going to be different, and hopefully I can handle it and learn from everything I've gone through over the past years. If I can play like I did today, then hopefully it's all going to be OK.'

The New York title is only the third of Stosur's career. She lost the French Open final in 2010 to Francesca Schiavone after reaching the Paris semis a year earlier.

Stosur, who a decade ago was playing minor events in Japan and occasionally sleeping in train stations to save money, has to believe that her fortunes have turned with the upset win over seething Serena.

'I'd like to be able to continue this. I guess time will tell. For sure it will just reinstate that belief and confidence in myself. Hopefully this is the first day of a new beginning for me as a player.'

Stosur is the first Aussie to win a Slam since Lleyton Hewitt in New York a decade ago. Patrick Rafter triumphed at the challenging venue in 1997 and 1998.

'I didn't start playing to break records or anything like that,' said Stosur. 'My goal and dream since I started - I've said it before - was to win a Grand Slam. 'Now to actually do it, it's unbelievable. Being in Australian with that great history and now to break that drought is obviously very special.'