• WTA Championships

Stosur determined to break Sharapova duck

ESPN staff
October 25, 2011
Sam Stosur says she is no longer intimidated by her big-name opponents © PA Photos
Enlarge

Sam Stosur insists she is not feeling the pressure ahead of her opening match against Maria Sharapova at the WTA Championships in Turkey.

The US Open champion has struggled for results since her victory at Flushing Meadows in September, but the Australian is desperate to end the year on a high, and could jump as high as world No. 2 with victory in Istanbul.

"We all know we're close to the end of year, but you have five or six days left and you can put absolutely everything into that event, everything into that match," Stosur said. "You can't leave anything to chance when you're playing the best in the world."

Stosur believes her stunning victory over Serena Williams in the final in New York has given her greater confidence. "As I've got older and had some success it's not so easy to intimidate me now," Stosur told the Guardian.

She has never beaten Sharapova in nine encounters - her heavy topspin playing into Sharapova's hands - but Stosur believes she can adapt her game to beat the Russian.

"If I am playing some of the shorter girls then my shots do bounce up higher and it is out of their zone whereas if you are playing someone six foot whatever, that hitting zone is much nicer for them," she said. "But maybe that is where you need to work things out and adjust things slightly."

With the top two from the White Group progressing to the semi-finals, Stosur faces round-robin matches against Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na at the Sinan Erdem Arena as she bids to close out 2011 on a high.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices