Former US Open champion Sam Stosur has said that she has an idea about when she will retire from tennis, but doesn’t want to ‘put a date on it.’
The 34-year-old is set to end the year outside of the world’s top 50 for the first time since 2008. A roller coaster 2018 has seen the Australian player win just 17 out of the 42 matches she has played. Stosur has ended the year with five consecutive first round defeats and last won a main draw match in July at the Gstaad Open.
Despite her mixed fortunes, Stosur will return to action at the start of next year at the Brisbane International. In what will be her 21st season on the tour. Despite becoming a veteran of the women’s tour, the 2011 US Open champion has no plans to slow down in the foreseeable future.
“I don’t know necessarily how many more Brisbane Internationals or Australian Opens I’m going to have, but while I’m still playing the way I am I want to be part of it,” Stosur told the Australian Associated Press. “I’ve got a bit of an idea but it’s so hard to say.
“I don’t want to put a date on it because if you feel like you want to keep going [when you should retire] you look like a bit of a fool, and if you quit earlier then you look silly as well.
“Not knowing how many are around the corner … it’d be nice to go out on a bit of a high with a good result in Australia.”
Whilst not winning any titles this season, Stosur can seek solace that she has enjoyed a season free of injury. Last year a stress fracture in her right hand forced the Australian to miss the entire grass-court season.
“Probably overall [this year’s been] a little bit disappointing, but in a lot of ways it was good because I went the whole year without being injured and missing anything,” she said.
“I feel like I’m actually playing really well at the moment – obviously you’ve got to get those wins on the board – but I feel like its all there and I’m looking forward to next year.”
Stosur has been ranked as high as fourth in the world. So far in her career, she has won nine WTA titles in singles competition and 25 in doubles. She has also played in 60 grand slam main draws with the first being at the 2002 Australian Open.
The Brisbane International will get underway on December 30th. Petra Kvitova, Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka will also feature in the tournament.
