Sam Stosur has confirmed that she will officially retire from singles competition at next month’s Australian Open on what will be the 20th anniversary of her maiden main draw appearance at a Grand Slam.
The 37-year-old has published a post on Instagram thanking Tennis Australia for handing her a wildcard into next month’s tournament which will be her 69th appearance in a major event. A record for Australian women’s tennis. Stosur is currently ranked outside the world’s top 300 and has only won one out of 10 Tour matches played in 2021. That was against compatriot Destanee Aiava in the first round of the Australian Open.
“I’m so excited and very grateful to play in my 20th AO in a couple of weeks time,” Stosur wrote on Instagram.
“A huge thank you to Tennis Australia for giving me this opportunity to finish my singles career at my home Grand Slam. It really means a lot to me to be able to finish in front of my family, friends and Aussie fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin.”
Stosur was ranked as high as fourth in the world back in 2011. On the Tour she has played in 16 finals, winning a total of nine titles. The most significant took place during the 2011 US Open where she stunned Serena Williams in straight sets to claim her first and only major title. At the time she was the first woman from her country to win a Grand Slam in 30 years. Stosur also reached the final of the 2010 French Open which she lost to Francesca Schiavone. The last singles title she won was back in 2017 at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France.
In the Billie Jean King Cup, which was formerly known as the Fed Cup, Stosur holds the record for most singles matches won by an Australian player at 29. Between 2003-2019 there were only two seasons where she didn’t play in the team tournament.
Despite stepping away from singles competition, Stosur intends to continue playing in the doubles where she is currently ranked 16th in the world. She won this year’s US Open women’s title alongside partner Shuai Zhang.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a mix of emotions but I wouldn’t want it any other way, as I always thought I’d finish playing in Australia. I do, however, plan to play the rest of the year in doubles. But this will close the first chapter of my career.” Stosur concludes.
The Australian Open will begin on January 17th.
