Williams escapes with a win in Sydney
Serena Williams stepped out onto court for the first time in a WTA match in 2009 when she faced Sam Stosur at the Medibank International in Sydney.
From the start the world no. 2 looked sharp and took the first set 6-3. In the second set Stosur was matching it with her higher ranked opponent. The match looked to be going the way of Williams when she was serving for the match at 5-4. She served what she thought was a let. Stosur hit the ball back and Williams just left it. No let call was made and Stosur went of from there to win the second set.
Serena Williams was now playing more like someone who had lost interest. She was still hitting awesome winners now and then but her body language had changed and she appeared to be sulking.
Stosur was able to get a crucial break mid-way through the deciding set and then held serve to have a 5-3 lead. Williams came back to make it 4-5. This then put the pressure on Australia’s Stosur to serve out the match and claim the scalp of the younger Williams sister.
Serving at 5-4 Stosur was ahead 40-0. She threw in two double faults to blow the lead. Serena then had a break back point but missed the return. Stosur then stepped it up to get another match point. Stosur had Williams at the net and was a sitting duck and Stosur hit the ball well out. Would she live to regret that miss?
Williams eventually got the break after saving four match points. From there she closed out the match to win the final set 7-5.
This was a match the Stosur really should have won, and one she needed to win for her confidence going into the Australian Open. For Williams she will think herself lucky to advance, then again she would have felt robbed if she lost.
The final score was 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-5.
Stosur has played in the final at this event several years ago. In 2005 she lost the final to fellow Aussie Alicia Molik.
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