MELBOURNE, Australia—Australia's Samantha Stosur, who has never reached a quarterfinal at the Australian Open in 13 appearances, says that she feels more at ease this year than in prior seasons. The former U.S. Open champion lost in the second round of the 2013 Australian Open to Zheng Jie, and the first round of the 2012 tournament to Sorana Cirstea. She opens her 2014 campaign against the same woman who defeated her in last week's Hobart semis, Klara Zakopalova.
“I guess there is [expectations], because I'm the top female player from this country,” Stosur said. “We've got a huge Grand Slam tournament. But, I don't think that's really bothered me this time around so far. At the end of the day it's always been a really positive thing. Anyone that has ever come up to me just wants me to do well and they wish me luck. I want to try to play well and play my best tennis here in Australia and give them all something to cheer about. This time around I feel fine. [But] because I'm seeded 17 this year instead of 8 or 9, whatever I was last year, certainly doesn't lower my expectations of what I think I'm going to be capable of doing.”