September 5, 2015
By Jillian Wright
Sam Stosur continued her strong run at the US Open by besting 16th seed Sara Errani in three sets: 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 on the Grandstand court. She has been through to the Round of 16 three previous times, including 2011 when she went on to win the title.
Stosur, the 22nd seed, came into the match with two easy wins under her belt in the tournament. This match promised to be much more competitive. Although Stosur led the head-to-head series 5-2, Errani had won the most recent two encounters in 2012. After two sets marked by mutiple momentum swings, Stosur dominated the final set with consisently excellent form. The fit Australian forced the action with her aggressive play and kept Errani on the back foot throughout the match. However, true to her style, Errani kept grinding and keeping points alive, resulting in 36 unforced errors for Stosur compared to 7 for the Italian in the first two sets. In the decisive set, Stosur’s strong ground game nullified Errani’s 86% first serve percentage.
In the first set, the Australian cruised through the first three games showing her all around class. Unfazed, Errani won the next four games off of the back of a spate of Stosur unforced errors. With the set leveled at 5 games all, Stosur rose up and won the next two games at love.
Errani struck back immediately in the second set showing her resiliency, winning the first three games by capitalizing on Stosur’s unforced errors. Stosur retaliated with a service break and then proceeded to win the next game in short order with three aces. The next three games were evenly played but Errani prevailed in each.
Between the second and third sets, Stosur focused on calming down and reducing unforced errors. In the final set, she had only five unforced errors compared to twelve winners. Errani kept her level consistent, but was no match for Stosur’s strength. Stosur combined good serving, aggressive ground strokes and attacking net play. When Stosur is composed and minimizes mistakes, her athletic all around game is a match for anyone on tour.
In the Round of 16, Stosur faces another fiesty Italian, 26th ranked Flavia Pennetta. To date, Pennetta is 6-0 against Stosur. However, if Stosur brings her A-game, she should be rewarded with a spot in the Quarterfinals.
Richard Gasquet Ends Bernard Tomic’s US Open Campaign
12th seeded Richard Gasquet of France needed only 89 minutes to dispatch 24th seeded Bernard Tomic in the day’s first match on the Grandstand court (6-4, 6-3, 6-1). Most expected a tight match, but the 6’5″ Australian appeared physically and emotionally drained from the outset. His gruelling second round five-set battle with Lleyton Hewitt in the New York heat may have taken its toll.
Gasquet played at a high level taking 90% of his first serves, hitting 43 winners and only 15 unforced errors for a total of 93 points won (Tomic won 59 points). One statistic speaks volumes – Tomic did not have a single break point opportunity in the entire match while Gasquet had sixteen chances and won five.
Gasquet thrilled the crowd in the second game of the third set with the shot of the tournament. Tomic returned a Gasquet dropshot out wide for an apparent winner. Gasquet ran it down and wrapped an incredible forehand around the net for the point. Gasquet’s next opponent is Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic (seeded 6). They have faced each other twelve times, winning six each. However, Berdych has taken the last three.
