Samantha Stosur's happy new year turned sour when she was dealt a horror draw in the Uncle Toby's Women's Hardcourts on the Gold Coast.
A semi finalist in her home tournament last year, Stosur has drawn world No.18 and fourth seed Karolina Sprem of Croatia in the first round.
It's a tough first-up encounter for 2005 but the 20-year-old has proven in the past she is up for the challenge.
Last year the right-handed Stosur stunned many tournament seeds, including Sprem in the second round, to reach the tournament's semi final in front of a parochial home crowd.
Stosur's superb start to 2004 was the catalyst to her finest year on the WTA where she finally reached the top 100, finishing the year ranked No.65 in the world.
Hopes are high on the Gold Coast that the local girl may prevail in the popular Australian Open warm-up event.
But she meets a refreshed Sprem, who also had a fine 2004.
Although Stosur prevailed in straight sets both times the pair met last year, it was Sprem who really established herself throughout the season.
The 20-year-old rocketed herself into the top 20 for the first time of her career but had her year cut short by a viral infection in November.
Tournament director Liz Smylie believes the Stosur-Sprem match up is clearly the pick of the first round clashes.
"That will be a hell of a match," said Smylie.
"They will both have to play well right from the first serve. There is no easy match for them.
"Sam has come a long way in 2004 and it is dangerous to predict what anyone is going to do in a tournament.
"Everyone has come here fresh so it is a good time of year to be playing well."
Event wildcards Tiffany Welford and Jaslyn Hewitt, sister of men's world No.3 Lleyton, have both drawn tough first round encounters against strong Czech Republic players.
Welford faces world No.36 Iveta Benesova while Hewitt meets No.46 Klara Koukalova.
Smylie believes any victory for the wildcards in this tournament would be sensational for the young girls.
"Welford and Hewitt are pooled next to each other, but any win in this tournament would be a good effort for them," she said.
"They are not necessarily expected to win, so that is why it is so important for these young Aussie girls to get a chance against these top players.
"Sam proved that last year when she got her wildcard and then won through to the semis and her year turned out great.
"That is what this tournament is here for. Hopefully Tiffany and Jaslyn take advantage of that."
Defending champion, world No.17 Ai Sugiyama of Japan, has drawn a tough first-up match against Dinara Safina, the sister of Russian men's ace Marat Safin.
Australian Nicole Pratt has drawn a qualifier in her first round but could face No.2 seed Patty Schnyder in the second round.
Top seed Nadia Petrova of Russia has drawn China's Jie Zheng.
In the doubles, tennis great Martina Navratilova and new partner Nathalie Dechy have drawn young Australian pair Casey Dellacqua and Nicole Sewell.
An all-Australian match is another first round highlight between Samantha Stosur/Bryanne Stewart and Jaslyn Hewitt/Sophie Ferguson.
The qualifier finals will be completed on Sunday with competition starting on Monday.
Experimentee
Jan 1st, 2005, 05:55 AM
Bad draw for the two Chinese :(
What is with Zheng always drawing Petrova?
Good luck:
Zheng
Li Na
Koukalova
Golovin
Safina
Likhovtseva
Pratt
Chunchun
Jan 1st, 2005, 05:56 AM
sam & klina :eek:
SpikeyAidanm
Jan 1st, 2005, 05:57 AM
Stosur gets horror Gold Coast draw
lol horror is exaggerating. Stosur knows how to beat Sprem... and Sprem didn't exactly end off 2004 brilliantly
Mattographer
Jan 1st, 2005, 05:58 AM
Plus Samantha trained hard at White City last few weeks with heat weather :yeah: It's advantage for the Aussie girl! :kiss:
AUSBOY
Jan 1st, 2005, 06:14 AM
I actually think Sam's draw isnt that bad, she beat Sprem twice last year in str8 sets. Off the top 4 seeds she got the quarter with the most winnable, just a shame she has to play her 1st round
Anik
Jan 1st, 2005, 06:20 AM
where is Lena Bovina :sad: ??
AUSBOY
Jan 1st, 2005, 06:42 AM
She withdrew allowing Beltrame into the main draw atthe last minute
Anik
Jan 1st, 2005, 07:01 AM
thanks !!!
no reason ? she's injured ?
Lemonskin.
Jan 1st, 2005, 07:08 AM
Good luck Sammy :D
F-R-E-A-K
Jan 1st, 2005, 07:16 AM
where is Lena Bovina :sad: ??
:sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad:
Good luck Patty !! :D :kiss: :hearts: :bounce: :worship:
Harju.
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:26 AM
Udachi :
Li Na
Foretz
Sprem
Benesova
Maleeva
Dechy
Barna
Golovin
Safina
Sugiyama
Loit
Schnyder
gary
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:32 AM
good luck
Nadia :) win your 1st title now :banana: :yeah:
Dinara vs Ai :rolleyes: :o
Lena L
greenfunkTHREE.
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:37 AM
jaslyn hewitt is playing?? sweet! i thought she was a model or something.:eek:
anway.
go LOIT!! you can do it!
Tenisci
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:38 AM
Good Luck To Maggie
Vamos Feńa
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:38 AM
Petrova-Li can be a great match.
Sam-Klina :eek: there will be some big serves :p
daniela86
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:48 AM
good luck to:
Petrova (1) :)
Beltrame :bounce:
Farina Elia (5) :p
Sprem (4) :scared: :scared: :scared: it will be hard k-lina!
Benesova iveta, don't disappoint me!!!!!!
Pennetta :angel:
Golovin :kiss:
Safina :hearts: :hearts: :hearts: udachi dinara!!!!!!!!!!you can beat her!!!!
Likhovtseva (7) :rocker:
Schnyder :smooch: go patty!!!!
DevilishAttitude
Jan 1st, 2005, 10:53 AM
Good Luck to
Slivia Farina Elia :D - Dangerous 2nd Round though if Denisa wins :o
Maggie Maleeva :rolleyes: - Surely has a winnable first match :p
Elena Likhovtseva :bounce: - Great chance to get to the semis :worship:
If Stosur can easily beat Sprem on hard in the US then with the way she plays in Aus I'd give her 60% chance of winnong :)
Jorn
Jan 1st, 2005, 11:03 AM
Good Luck Nadia, Dinara, Tax and Stephanie!! :)
http://www.tina-pisnik.net/happynewyear.gif
TatiAnnahølic
Jan 1st, 2005, 12:00 PM
Good luck:
:hearts::hearts::hearts: Tati
:cool: Tax
:worship: Karolina
;) Ai
:D Nat
Mattographer
Jan 1st, 2005, 12:03 PM
If Stosur can easily beat Sprem on hard in the US then with the way she plays in Aus I'd give her 60% chance of winnong :)
What does you means? :) Samantha beat Karolina here in Gold Coast last year in straight sets! :p Plus Samantha trained hard in past few weeks at White City in Sydney with heat condition! :p
Go Karolina- crush Sam and continue through the draw which looks like a good one for you
Good Luck:
Safina
Golovin
Fedak
Hewitt
greenfunkTHREE.
Jan 1st, 2005, 01:51 PM
GO LOIT! :kiss:
Gunter
Jan 1st, 2005, 02:23 PM
Good luck K-Lina :bounce:
andrewC
Jan 1st, 2005, 02:37 PM
poor zheng... she'll never beat petrova! Go Na Li, do something right for the chinese team this week!
Topher950
Jan 1st, 2005, 02:37 PM
Common K-lina!!!! I think that even tho sam beat her last year, that was a different k-lina. She was just starting her sky rocket to the top. It will be a tough one. GO k-lina!!
lauryn
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:24 PM
Good luck to:
K-Lina :)
Iveta :)
Flavia :)
Virginie :)
KJD
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:30 PM
Petrova (1) vs Zheng
Li Na vs Garbin
Chladkova vs Beltrame
Foretz vs Farina Elia (5)
Sprem (4) vs Stosur :eek: :haha:
Benesova vs WC-Welford
WC-Hewitt vs Koukalova
Fedak vs Maleeva (8)
Dechy (6) vs Pennetta
Q vs Barna
Golovin vs Q
Safina vs Sugiyama (3)
Likhovtseva (7) vs Loit
Q vs Camerin
Q vs Pratt
Razzano vs Schnyder (2)
Where did you find this draw? Can you give the link, please? :) Thank you!
pcrtennis
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:37 PM
GO AI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She has a good draw after Safina, who I'm sure she'll beat...then Golovin...but I'm not too worried about her. The rest of the road looks really promising!!!! GO AI!
Poor Jie always draws Pettrova...maybe this time is THE time...GO NA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know Na will go very far in this tourney! She can outclass Petrova after demolishing Garbin!
crazillo
Jan 1st, 2005, 03:39 PM
-You can win this Maleeva!!!
-Safina vs. Sugiyama should be a killer match!!
-Which of the Barna sisters is playing?
I am one of the biggest or probably the biggest Maggie-fan, but I can'T see her winning here!
Ted of Teds Tennis
Jan 1st, 2005, 04:02 PM
Did I miss something? When did the WTA make Tier 3's 32-draws?
DevilishAttitude
Jan 1st, 2005, 04:04 PM
What does you means? :) Samantha beat Karolina here in Gold Coast last year in straight sets! :p Plus Samantha trained hard in past few weeks at White City in Sydney with heat condition! :p
I mean I give her a better chance of winning than Sprem :p
Jie (Again against Petrova.. :rolls: )
Tathiana :D Crappy draw.
Stéphanie :) Also a crappy draw.
Klara :aparty:
Flavia :) <--> Nathalie :( But I want Flavia to win more..
Anca :D
Emilie :D
Maria Elena :)
- Praying that Shikha, Neha & Tian Tian qualify -
Martian KC
Jan 1st, 2005, 08:08 PM
Good luck to:
Petrova (1)
Zheng
Li Na
Garbin
Farina Elia (5)
Sprem (4)
Benesova
Maleeva (8)
Dechy (6)
Safina
Sugiyama (3)
Likhovtseva (7)
Loit
Razzano
and Schnyder (2)!!!!
foreva lindsay
Jan 1st, 2005, 08:25 PM
jaslyn hewitt is playing?? sweet! i thought she was a model or something.:eek: