Tennis: Stosur happy to carry hopes of a nation

Sam Stosur. Photo / Getty Images

The pressure's immense, the spotlight intense, but Samantha Stosur has vowed to enjoy the ride as she strives to break Australia's 33-year title drought at the season-opening grand slam in Melbourne.

While perennial flag-bearer Lleyton Hewitt will be flat strap surviving round one, Stosur is Australia's highest women's seed since Wendy Turnbull in 1984 and ever aware she's carrying the hopes and expectations of a success-starved tennis nation.

The French Open runner-up launches her Open campaign tomorrow intent on savouring the experience come what may.

"I know there's more spotlight on me and on my matches but most people are wanting me to do well and I think that's a good position to be in," Stosur said yesterday.

"Australians love their sport and getting behind our athletes so I'm glad I can be one of those people.

"It's all part of being in the rankings position that I'm in. Right from when I was a young kid, I wanted to be as high as I could be and, if this is what comes along with that, then you've got to embrace it and enjoy it.

"It could all be gone tomorrow so I guess while it's there, enjoy it and make the most of where I'm at."

Fifth-seeded Stosur opens against the lowest-ranked player in the 128-woman draw, talented teen Lauren Davis, and admits to knowing virtually nothing about the American wildcard playoff winner. Her top priority remains getting through round one.

"It could be a tough one," Stosur said. "I've got to work things out as I get out there and work through the match. My goal has got to be to try to play well and do the best I can every time out on the court and hopefully that's going to mean I get to play quite a few matches here.

"A lot of things have got to go right for you to win a grand slam. You've got to play extremely well, maybe get a bit lucky sometimes and have all the pieces fall together. So hopefully the next 14 days will be that way for me."

Contesting his 15th consecutive Open, unseeded Hewitt is high on confidence after claiming three highly rated scalps to win the Kooyong Classic on Saturday.

The 29-year-old father-of-three has a challenging first-round clash tomorrow with career-long rival - and bookmakers' sixth favourite for the men's title - David Nalbandian.

Should he see off his Argentine nemesis, Hewitt is confident of making another decent run at his home slam.

"This year, I feel like everything's gone to plan so far," the Open's 2005 runner-up said. "So it's a matter of just going out there and executing and hopefully playing well on Tuesday.

"It's going to be a tough match. Obviously a tough draw. Normally you don't mind easing into the tournament a little bit, but we're both going to have to be up for the match straightaway."

Stosur and Hewitt are among 14 Australians in the singles draws, with Jarmila Groth, Jelena Dokic, Olivia Rogowska and Peter Luczak all in action today.

- AAP