Australian great Sam Stosur may have only one match left in her career after losing in the first round of the Australian Open women’s doubles on Thursday.
Stosur’s daughter Evie and other family were in the crowd as No.11 seeds Zhaoxuan Yang and Hao-ching Chan beat Stosur and French partner Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-4 in front of a packed Kia Arena, edging the Melbourne-based Queenslander closer to retirement.
The 38-year-old still has the mixed doubles to play on Friday alongside countryman Matt Ebden, with whom she made the 2021 Australian Open and last year’s Wimbledon finals.
“I feel like I’m about to cry now that I’m looking at you cry,” Stosur said to Casey Dellacqua in a post-match interview on court.
“I thought it was a fantastic match today. I thought Alize and I played pretty well together, but [Yang and Chan] were very good today and didn’t give us anything.
“It was a really hard decision [to retire]. I love playing, I love competing, and I love playing in front of you guys – and a crowd like this makes it kind of feel strange you don’t want to do it anymore.
Sam Stosur acknowledges the crowd after her doubles defeat.Credit:Getty Images
“But, I think you get to a point where the other things become a little more difficult, and I’ve loved my run – travelling, playing, doing everything that I’ve been able to do – and I wanted to finish here in Melbourne and this year was it, so it’s a bit bittersweet.
“But thank you all for coming out here. It’s been really special.”
Stosur was in a playful mood as her farewell tour kicked off, geeing up the crowd after holding serve to start the second set and appearing to relish how warmly she was received.
The capacity crowd was engaged throughout, riding every high and low throughout the doubles contest as they savoured one of their last chances to watch the 2011 US Open singles champion in action.
There was a huge applause ahead of match point then a standing ovation after it, before Stosur walked to the middle of the court and waved in appreciation, admitting that atmosphere was what she would miss most.
“That’s what all of us play for. We love playing in front of crowds, and it’s not the same when it’s not there,” she said.
“I love getting out there, and I still love practising. The people I’ve had around me – my team throughout my whole career – we really made the best of every situation, so I couldn’t have done any more.
“But I love playing here, and it’s incredible to play in a home tournament. We’re very lucky to have a home grand slam. I’ve been out here 21 times, so I can’t complain.”
Stosur retired from singles at last year’s Open, where she advanced to the second round, although she made a surprise one-off appearance at Strasbourg in May.
She has won eight grand slam titles overall, including four in women’s doubles and three in mixed doubles, while also reaching the 2010 French Open singles final and three other semi-finals there.
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