It's that time of the year again! That's right...it's Clay Time!

2-1

Tricky shot from Sam 3-1 :)

Great rally :worship: 3-1

4-1

Great serving Sam! 4-1, come on indeed!

5-1!!! Don't let her off the hook again, please Sam!

5-1

Finish the job Sammy. Don't think about the 5 SPs. They never happened :bigcry:

5 more SPs :unsure:

5 SPs. Surely this can't get away from her :unsure:

Wooohhoooo!!! Cool as a cucumber!

Yeeeeeeeeeessssss! Finally. :bounce:

7-6 Sam.

Well, I guess she got there in the end :sobbing:

NID.

:lol: I wish!

For an impartial observer, it's a really nice match. For a supporter of either of the teams it's torture.

Sam has not lost a match this year after winning the 1st set. Hopefully she can keep that record intact.

Gosh this stream is driving me insane but I guess its better than not seeing it at all.

1-0 Sam. Breaks straight away.

I think (hope) she might run away with this now.

Early break for Sam. You've got your foot on her neck now Sam, please keep it there!

Gosh this stream is driving me insane but I guess its better than not seeing it at all.

:lol: Know what you mean, dropping out at the worst possible times, it's excruciating.

Some awesome serving from Sam now :drool:

2-1

Sigh. I hate it when Sam gets an early break. :lol:

Absolutely love that outfit on Sam. Almost liking it as much as the purple Lacoste...

You can see that Sam is a lot more comfortable on the clay than Angie, but if she (Angie) ever works out how to move on this surface she will be pretty formidable.

Hmmpph! Some errors creeping back into Sam's game :(

Saaammmmyyyy

Lovely play to save the BP

Good play to save BP!

Phew 3-1

Let's get a second break Sam!

Good hold under pressure. 3-1, come on Sammy!!!

Another break yeah Sam? Lets run away with this now :)

Nice dropper.

BP! Come on Sam, give yourself the buffer!

Sam looking great atm!

Her volleying has been good today.

Great defense from Angie.

3-2

Angie grimly hanging in there

Strange match in a way. Kerber always looks like she's scrambling around but keeping it close anyway.

0-30 :facepalm:

0-30. Come on Sammy!

0-40 SAMMMMYYY

Please don't let this happen again :sad:

0-40 :( Great play from Kerber, but some dodgy choices from Sam

3-3 :sobbing:

Angie earned that with some great counterpunching and intuition though.

Great defensive play from Angie, but Sam is letting her grip slip a little bit as well

4-3

Argh.

3-4 :( Time for Sam to regroup again!

Sam's 2-hander is a shocker, it has to be said.

0-30 :bigcry: Sam is letting Angie's good defense get to her

Sam's 2-hander is a shocker, it has to be said.

Her dodgy BH is one of my favourite qualities, however :worship:

Good time for ace #2. 4-4, how important was that hold?

Yes, great FH return. 30-30, do something with this Sam!

BP!!! Come on Sam, convert for a change!

Come on take the break point Sam takeittakeittakeitforhteloveofgod

Break to Sam! Sam to serve for the match!!!!

5-4 :D

Come on Sam. Let's wrap this up :banana:

Fingers crossed...

0-15 :(

Angie gets help from the net yet again :sobbing:

0-30 :(:(

Pfhhh! 0-30 :(

15-30

30-30

Oh God. Kerber can read Sam's mind, I think.

Tempting fate by going to Angie's FH again, but got away with it. 30-30

40-30 :d

MP! Bigservbigservebigserve

yes fucking yes!! Fantastic effort from Sam!

Yes! :D
76 64
Probably should have been 62 63 but I'll take it :banana:

NID :lol:

Well done Sam :) Hopefully that takes a little pressure off Jarka.

Angie is such a gutsy competitor, so good effort from Sam to close it out in 2. And she's broken her USO curse :)

Well done Sam :) Hopefully that takes a little pressure off Jarka.

Julia has to be at least a little bit nervous now. Jarka has nothing to lose, she should just go for it.

Hmm...well I've spent the ten dollars now so I guess I should watch Jarka play as well :cheer:

*shuffles off to other forum*

Angie is such a gutsy competitor, so good effort from Sam to close it out in 2. And she's broken her USO curse :)

Yes! I just remembered this. Hopefully it means Sam will deal out several more drubbings to Serena in the near future :cheer:

Here is the Stuttgart draw:
Azarenka BLR (1) vs BYE
Barrios GER WC vs Petkovic GER
Ivanovic SRB vs Barthel GER WC
Q vs Bartoli FRA (7)

Radwanska POL (4) vs BYE
Q vs Q
Hantuchova SVK vs Cibulkova SVK
Safarova CZE vs Li CHN (8)

Wozniacki DEN (6) vs Jankovic SRB
Kerber GER vs Vinci ITA
Schiavone ITA vs Niculescu ROU
BYE vs Kvitova CZE (3)

Stosur AUS (5) vs Peng CHN
Goerges GER vs Pavlyuchenkova RUS
Q vs Pennetta ITA
BYE vs Sharapova RUS (2)

Not exactly ideal for Sam - although the field is so dense that it probably was to be expected. Tough first match with Peng, followed by a re-match with the defending champ in Goerges, followed by a match with either Masha or the dreaded Flavs :sobbing:

Of the top 4 seeds, it's hard to choose who is a better draw. Probably Radwanska. Avoiding Azarenka is as good as it gets.

I am actually looking forward to a match with Sharpie on clay if Sam can get past two rounds.

^I agree, with such a loaded field there was never going to be an easy draw. Sam can reach the SF here I think if she keeps up her current level of play. Assuming she beats Julia today there is no reason why she can't repeat that in a few days time. Maria is always going to be a tough obstacle for her, even on clay, but I really think that Sam in current form should win. If Sam meets Petra in the SF that will be tough, but tbh it won't surprise me to see Petra go out before that, especially since this will be her first tournament on clay this year. I won't even speculate at this stage about Sam's chances in a final against Vika, if she gets that far I will already be delighted.

Petko's come out :unsure:

Should be interesting. I think I actually prefer this match up for Sam.

Match starting on Fox sports now :cheer:

There's a free link to a stream here: http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-2/18/184/v-398513.html

Sam not striking the ball as well as yesterday so far.

Petko looks pumped

Petkovic is pumped up early.

Strong serving for a good hold in the end :)

Okay Petko is looking a lot less pumped all of a sudden

2-0 Sam

What is it with Sam and early breaks?

Early break for Sam :D

Sam looks a little tight.

0-40 :(

Shit!

:bigcry:

I have the feeling that Sam often gets a bit tentative when playing someone for the first time. She seems tight and a bit indecisive so far. Maybe it's the pressure of being favorite to win this match.

Petko's got a serious case of bipolar at the moment. Great play followed by terrible play.

^She's looking very rusty, understandably. Unfortunately, Sam is also looking pretty shaky

In all honesty it's a pretty awful match so far.

Sam's best point so far! BP!

Another BP!

Yes!! 3-1. Sam starting to find her game! :)

Good last two points there.

Go Sam!

Hopefully those two points will settle her down a bit. She looks really uncomfortable out there at the moment, but luckily Petko hasn't been able to capitalise 3-1

That drop shot :eek:

Awful drop shot (if that's what it was :lol:)

Shit, BP again :bigcry:

Noooo!!! I must say, Petko is returning Sam's serve pretty wel atm.

Pfft 3-2

Noooo!!! I must say, Petko is returning Sam's serve pretty wel atm.

Sam's not really serving great though. Where's the big kicker?

Sam's goundies are landing half-court. She needs to get them deeper.

She is taking the return from the baseling :eek: Pretty tough do when sam is serving.

Sam's not really serving great though. Where's the big kicker?

She's not really committing to her shots like she did yesterday. She looks tentative.

0-40

No-one holding serve at the moment :lol:

This match is a trainwreck!

Lucky ball for the break. At this stage I'm happy to take that :lol:

lol, bit of luck 4-2

HOLD SERVE SAM HOLD!!!

First ace! Hopefully that'll inspire her.

Yeah Sammy :banana:

5-2

Much better serving :D

Woohoo (or should that be whewwhew :lol:) Sam holds to take it to 5-2.

5-2 :cheer: Now is the important time to break.

5-3

5-3. Gonna have to serve it out.

Petko holds for the first time. Sam will have to serve out the set :unsure:

DF :( Sammy, what are you doing?

Wtf???? :( :( :(

...:(

Fuuuccckkkkkk

5-4

Sammy :bigcry:

Jesus, what's going on with Sam? This is not a good day to have a bad day at the office :(

Petko drew those dFs by standing so far into the court. Very interesting.

Gotta break here or I fear the worst.

Did anyone see how close she stood to the service box to force the second DF. Come on Sam! Petko's serve has been all over the place. Get the break.

Come on Sam :cheer:

0-30!! Come on Sammy!!!

Argh my stream died :sad:

3 SPs!!! Sam, don't blow this!

Sam is really struggling with her timing

Jesus Sam :sobbing:

FUCKFUCKFUCKFfUCKFUCKFUCK

A test of patience for Sam in that rally, but another SP!

What a point! Set point 4 come on Sammy.

6-4 :banana: Come on one more set :D

Almost an anti-climax in the end, but the first set goes to Sammy :cheer:

Thank go for that. But I fear this isn't over...

Seeing Sammy slide on the clay :hearts:
One set down :cheer:

Well, I think that's the worst I've ever seen Sam play and also win a set. :lol:

I really hope Petko doesn't get things together in the second set.

Fortunately, Sam's getting better at winning ugly. That was a pretty awful set, but she was just marginally less awful than Petko.

Good scrambling from Sam.

Break point :scared:

Back to deuce, whew!

Best FH of the match probably! Needs a few more of those!

There we go!

After all the netcords that went Germany's way yesterday, Sam was overdue for that one. Good hold in the end.

:lol: lucky on game point.

Well, the net was helping Angie yesterday, so it's making amends today :worship:

Looking to the future, I'm a bit concerned that a rusty Petko is returning Sam's serve so well, and on clay to boot.

0-40! An early break would be nice!

0-40

Of course. Early break again. Doesn't mean a thing. :lol:

Get the ball into play Sam :bigcry:

A few cheap errors from Petko gives Sam the break :cheer:

2-0 Sam

Needed a gift from Andrea in the end, but Sam gets the break :cheer:

Great serving from Sam now! 3-0, surely this one is in the bag now :unsure:

3-0 :cheer:

Another break would be nice now!

Another gem of a forehand from Sam! Too few of those today

God-awful match really :lol:

Petko gets on the board. Huge game here Petko getting pumped again. Must hold.

Fortunately Sam's serve is firing now, because her ground game is looking dodgy

40-15 :d

Wow, beautiful BH DTL

DF :rolleyes:

Nice dropshot :inlove:

Dropper :lol:

4-1 Sambo

God-awful match really :lol:

I was just about to ask if Sam is playing well or if Andrea is playing badly. That answers my question :lol:

I was just about to ask if Sam is playing well or if Andrea is playing badly. That answers my question :lol:

Andrea is playing like someone who hasn't played a competitive match in 3 months. Unfortunately so is Sam, in patches at least.

2 BPs. If Sam can take one of these it's surely over.

5-1 :cheer:

5-1 :cheer: Now serve it out Sammy.

Went for it, got it! Double break, 5-1!!! Serve it out Sam, for pride if nothing else!

Andrea is playing like someone who hasn't played a competitive match in 3 months. Unfortunately so is Sam, in patches at least.

Nicely put :sobbing:

2 aces when she needed them the most :worship:

Serving her way out of trouble

Match point :dance:

:woohoo: Back in the world group. Good work Sammy!

6-4 6-1

Ugly match. But I guess winning ugly is what the best players do. Her serve looked pretty good today, but everything else...not so much.

Cockatoos back in the top tier for Fed Cup :cheer::banana:

Sam does what she needed to do :worship: Great stuff to win comfortably while her a-game has taken the day off!

:woohoo: Back in the world group. Good work Sammy!

Exactly! :cheer: They can win this thing next year, I really believe that!

I was hoping that I would get the chance to watch Sam/Casey play together, but Sam's been subbed for Jarka. Probably a good move given that Stuttgart starts tomorrow.

The 2 singles matches were great preparation for Sam's Stuttgart campaign, but I think the doubles might have been too much of a good thing. I'm sure Sam would have been happy to front up for the team again if it was needed, but ideally she will want to be fresh to give herself a decent chance of going deep this week.

Btw, Sam is now up to 23 singles wins for Australia in Fed Cup. Only Dianne Balestrat has more (24).

Great match from Sam :) Dont think Petko was really up for the match but Sam played really well. Even though Id like her to play doubles Im kind of glad she is rested for Stuttgart. Great start to the clay season. :)

http://serve.mysmiley.net/party/party0040.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)http://serve.mysmiley.net/party/party0040.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)http://serve.mysmiley.net/party/party0040.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net)

I was hoping that I would get the chance to watch Sam/Casey play together, but Sam's been subbed for Jarka. Probably a good move given that Stuttgart starts tomorrow.

In his post-tie interview Dave, ever the realist, hinted that there was room for improvement in how Sam and Casey combine as a doubles team, and that he would be counting on them to play a key role next year in the WG. Makes sense of course, when you step up to that level of competition it is no longer a given that Sam will win all her singles matches, so even if Jarka and/or others score a win or two here and there we will more than likely need the doubles to get us over the line. Means a bigger workload for Sam of course, but if the reward is a FC trophy at the end of next year I'm sure she would feel it was worth it.

In his post-tie interview Dave, ever the realist, hinted that there was room for improvement in how Sam and Casey combine as a doubles team, and that he would be counting on them to play a key role next year in the WG. Makes sense of course, when you step up to that level of competition it is no longer a given that Sam will win all her singles matches, so even if Jarka and/or others score a win or two here and there we will more than likely need the doubles to get us over the line. Means a bigger workload for Sam of course, but if the reward is a FC trophy at the end of next year I'm sure she would feel it was worth it.

That's one way of putting it. I like both of them but I think they're rubbish as a doubles team. Is Dave hoping the whole lefty/righty thing will click (shades of Martina and Pam :lol:). I'm just not getting it - I hope they prove me wrong, though. I mean how nervous would you guys have been if it had come down to a deciding doubles rubber and it was Sam and Casey? :scared: IMHO Sam and Jarka are much better as an Aussie team.

^Well, they're both individually good doubles players. I get the feeling that they haven't "clicked" yet, but the fact Dave is talking about the pairing into next year makes me think they've got quite a long-term plan in place. Hopefully their results will improve a little bit over the next few months.

Sam and Peng are up first on centre court - the same time and place as Sam's last two matches. Which is a great time for me :D

What about poor old Nastya for the dubs :sad:

What about poor old Nastya for the dubs :sad:

She's not making enough friends? :shrug: Has Nastya ever partnered another Aussie player outside of Fed cup?

That's one way of putting it. I like both of them but I think they're rubbish as a doubles team. Is Dave hoping the whole lefty/righty thing will click (shades of Martina and Pam :lol:). I'm just not getting it - I hope they prove me wrong, though. I mean how nervous would you guys have been if it had come down to a deciding doubles rubber and it was Sam and Casey? :scared: IMHO Sam and Jarka are much better as an Aussie team.

Haven't actually seen them play so I'll reserve judgment for the time being. It did look like they were starting to gel a bit in IW, they notched up their first win together and were much more competitive against the seasoned pairing of Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova than they were in their first outing just a few weeks earlier. But as you say, if it had come down to the doubles this time I would definitely have been nervous.

I think Tennisforadults has a point when he says that nobody really wants to play with Nastya. It's an "inconvenient truth", but if you're looking to form a long term doubles combo you ignore it at your peril. In any case I think a lot of people are overrating her doubles skills. She plays a lot of doubles so has a fairly high ranking, but her results are far from impressive. Both Casey and Sam have better records.

Sam and Jarka would be a nice combo for sure, but I don't know that it would be wise to have your top 2 singles players as your fixed doubles team as well. I think the current team looks pretty good, especially if Jarka can start getting some consistent results and Liv develops her game a bit more.

She's not making enough friends? :shrug: Has Nastya ever partnered another Aussie player outside of Fed cup?

She won gold with Sally Peers at the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Last year she played one tournament with Casey (Brussels) and Jarka (Guangzhou) each and won a round both times before losing in the QF.

I think Tennisforadults has a point when he says that nobody really wants to play with Nastya. It's an "inconvenient truth", but if you're looking to form a long term doubles combo you ignore it at your peril.

I have a vague feeling that DT and ARod might not have the best relationship as well. I seem to remember him making some not-so-positive comments about her performance against Ukraine in the media last year, and I wonder if there's a little bit of an unpleasantness between them. On one hand, it seems stupid to let a tiff get in the way of choosing the best Fed Cup team (not that I think that that is quite what has happened here), but on the other hand, it seems like morale and closeness are a pretty important part of doing well, and that a team captain with a no-so-great relationship with one of the players wouldn't be a positive thing.

Personally, I do think that ARod should have been selected over Olivia for this tie, although I can also see how you could make an argument either way.

I have a vague feeling that DT and ARod might not have the best relationship as well. I seem to remember him making some not-so-positive comments about her performance against Ukraine in the media last year, and I wonder if there's a little bit of an unpleasantness between them. On one hand, it seems stupid to let a tiff get in the way of choosing the best Fed Cup team (not that I think that that is quite what has happened here), but on the other hand, it seems like morale and closeness are a pretty important part of doing well, and that a team captain with a no-so-great relationship with one of the players wouldn't be a positive thing.

Personally, I do think that ARod should have been selected over Olivia for this tie, although I can also see how you could make an argument either way.

Tbh Dave's double role as Sam's coach and FC captain makes things pretty awkward at times. Especially when he makes comments about certain players it's only normal that some people question his objectivity. I personally think he does a pretty good job, but can understand that others sometimes question his judgment. As for ARod, it's entirely possible that personal feelings could have played a small role in his decision not to go with her now, but considering the fact that he's not the only one who has problems with her, that wouldn't necessarily be wrong. In any case I'm quite certain that the main criterion he applies to all the players equally is that if they want a place in the team they have to step up to the plate and show they deserve it (it's almost a mantra for him). With a singles ranking in the 90s and a 19th ranking in WTA doubles competition in which most of the best doubles players like the Williams sisters and Sam only play parttime, her claim to a place in the team is pretty doubtful at best. She hasn't made matters better for herself by publicly complaining about being left out this time.

Personally I would have selected her for this tie, for the sole reason it was against Germany and you want the best possible team in order to be prepared for all eventualities. But the potential benefits of including her were pretty small, so I don't think it was an outrageous gamble to go with Liv. As it turned out the gamble paid off, and Liv got her first taste of FC action, and acquitted herself pretty well I'd say. That's sure to stand her in good stead if and when she's called upon to play a live rubber for the team.

Sam and Peng are up first on centre court - the same time and place as Sam's last two matches. Which is a great time for me :D

Until now I have not been at all nervous about this match, which now that I think about it makes me very nervous. Sam is better at wrong-footing her fans than her opponents: just when you think she's about to go on an amazing winning spree she suffers a bizarre loss :unsure:

I think she'll be okay in this match. I unfortunately wont get to watch but will be following it. Go Sam :)

I think she'll be ok. Peng did give her a hard time the last time they played at that exhibition tournament, but this surface should suit Sam a lot more. And Peng isn't in good form at the moment - the only notable win she's had this year was against Bartoli, who was semi-injured at the time.

Yeah, she should be okay, Peng is having a so-so year so far and Sam has a good record against her. On the other hand she has had some pretty good results on clay in the past so I'm not expecting a cakewalk.

They love the pounding music in Stuttgart, eh?

They love the pounding music in Stuttgart, eh?

And in a big way! B.
Note: and it's the same with the Porsche commercials using the changeovers.

Oh look. Sam seems to be coasting with an early break. It will be a breaker :sobbing:

Some epic serving in that game...

3-0 Sammy :cheer:

Sam's barely had to hit a groundstroke on serve :yeah:

4-1

5-2

Sammy looking good :banana:

Sam takes the first set 6-2

Peng's not playing very well. Hopefully Sam can keep her concentration and power to the finish line.

Sam going well :cheer:

Sam goes 1-0 after saving a couple of break points

Sam goes 1-0 after saving a couple of break points

For once I was absolutely sure she would hold there.

Had to go out, just got back. Only have live scores, but seems Sam is going well :cheer:

Is there some German guy counting in the background of other people's stream? :unsure:

1-1

Is there some German guy counting in the background of other people's stream? :unsure:

1-1

Yep. Check the live commentary thread for an explanation. :lol:

Yep. Check the live commentary thread for an explanation. :lol:

Lol. I might have to ask Patrick from GM to get in contact with the guy and stop him fucking around with the camera :lol:

2-1 Sam

Seems like Sam's serve is working well. 81% first serves in, that's pretty amazing

Oh dear. Peng seems really underdone. She should have gone and played an MM this week rather than putting herself through the nightmare draw here.

3-1

Break to Sammy! No wobbles now, please :unsure:

4-1

Sam looking a lot better today than she did against Petko :yeah:

Sometimes it looks like Peng want to duck and cover facing that barrage!

It seems like the Stuttgart Arena has a good end and a bad end. Both seem to be coasting at the end Sam just served from, and struggling at the other. Jarka vs Julia had a similar pattern.

OK now they're just playing with camera...

:lol:

This stream is funny.

It's like some weird post-modern art exhibit.

^15-40: so much for that theory :lol:

5-1

Wow, this is going unbelievably well. I thought this was going to be a pretty tough match. :)

Stream died :sobbing:

BP :bigcry: Sam, I said no wobbles!

Sammy broken when serving for the match. :sobbing:

Christ she gets broken serving for it. Becoming a habit...

She suddenly seems to be missing a lot more first serves

Christ she gets broken serving for it. Becoming a habit...

Not a good habit if she wants to go far in this tournament. I'm sure she'll pull through today, but future opponents may not be so forgiving

Nice routine win for Sam. She's had a good start to the European clay season. Hasn't been tested at all in three matches against decent opponents.

6-2 6-2!! :cheer: Shame about the blemish of the last break, otherwise highly impressive.

62 62

:cheer:

Nice routine win for Sam. She's had a good start to the European clay season. Hasn't been tested at all in three matches against decent opponents.

Her start on clay is comparable to that in 2010. Okay she won Charleston then, but she didn't have to beat a top 20 player to do so. Now she's got 2 top 20 wins and a top 30 win already :worship:

^And that doesn't include her most impressive win against VeeVee

Should be interesting to see who gets through out of a (possibly) sick Goerges or a slumping Pavlyuchenkova. They both beat Sam on clay last year, but you'd *think* that Sam will get through her next match :unsure:

^And that doesn't include her most impressive win against VeeVee

Should be interesting to see who gets through out of a (possibly) sick Goerges or a slumping Pavlyuchenkova. They both beat Sam on clay last year, but you'd *think* that Sam will get through her next match :unsure:

How could I forget that one. Great match, even a lot of her haters had to concede she played well. Sam *shouldn't* have any trouble whoever her next opponent is, but I'm not counting any chickens yet.

Solid start for Sam :) Nice to see a scoreline like that.

Too easy, Sam. Now it gets interesting. Next round should be Goerges - sick still beats slumping.

Too easy, Sam. Now it gets interesting. Next round should be Goerges - sick still beats slumping.

Yeah, I think I could almost beat Nastya the way she's been playing lately, so Goerges almost for sure. I fancy Sam's chances either way, but as we all know she is fully capable of throwing in a shocker out of the blue so I'm not counting on anything. I'd really love to see her play Sharapova in the QF. If she can bring her big game to the court I think she would win that one, but you never know of course.

Good job Sammy!!!! :)

Julia hit 43 winners to 25 unforced errors in her win against Pavs. Sammy's going to have to play bloody well :unsure:

Julia hit 43 winners to 25 unforced errors in her win against Pavs. Sammy's going to have to play bloody well :unsure:

She was bloody awful for the first set and a half, after that I stopped watching. Apparently she got her act together after that, but don't forget that this was against Pavlyuchenkova, who won the first set by playing marginally less awful than Julia. I'm not too worried.

Well if Julia starts horribly again then that would be good for Sam :p

Sam has been pretty much in predatory mode lately, and despite recovering well against Pavs Julia still looks shaky, so Sam should overwhelm her I think. Then there's the psychological thing of Julia shying away from the reverse singles in FC. Even if she wasn't feeling well she should have bit the bullet and played (under similar circumstances Sam would have for sure). That can only give Sam more confidence.

Of course there's always a chance that Sam will have one of those days when her serve and forehand aren't firing well, but even if that happened I think she's got a good chance of gritting her way through.

Sam has been pretty much in predatory mode lately, and despite recovering well against Pavs Julia still looks shaky, so Sam should overwhelm her I think. Then there's the psychological thing of Julia shying away from the reverse singles in FC. Even if she wasn't feeling well she should have bit the bullet and played (under similar circumstances Sam would have for sure). That can only give Sam more confidence.

Of course there's always a chance that Sam will have one of those days when her serve and forehand aren't firing well, but even if that happened I think she's got a good chance of gritting her way through.

Difficult to say it in a better way. :)
An element I have noticed: Julia lost her singles WE match on that same Suttgart court, with a 99% dedicated audience.
Sam, on her side, won her two WE matches Vs. two tough opponents (remember the USO11 semi finale, set#2?); Sam did not lost a set this WE, has, at no point, been in danger.
Yes, Sam could count on a very dedicated 1% supporter, that's true, but it just cannot explain it all.
B.

i know this is off-topic but did anyone know this fact:-Sam is ambidextrous; she writes with her left hand and plays tennis with her right.

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/womens-health/life-features/celebrities/article/-/9678810/the-team-behind-sam-stosur/

i know this is off-topic but did anyone know this fact:-Sam is ambidextrous; she writes with her left hand and plays tennis with her right.

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/womens-health/life-features/celebrities/article/-/9678810/the-team-behind-sam-stosur/

She is one smart cookie. Maybe she should try hitting a left-handed forehand instead of her two handed backhand.

Sammy and Julia up third on centre court - about 4pm Stuttgart time.

Difficult to say it in a better way. :)
An element I have noticed: Julia lost her singles WE match on that same Suttgart court, with a 99% dedicated audience.
Sam, on her side, won her two WE matches Vs. two tough opponents (remember the USO11 semi finale, set#2?); Sam did not lost a set this WE, has, at no point, been in danger.
Yes, Sam could count on a very dedicated 1% supporter, that's true, but it just cannot explain it all.
B.

:yeah:

I think home support is a two edged sword: if you can give the crowd something to cheer about it can really help a lot, but if you fail to deliver it can be embarrassing and constrictive. I think for Julia on Saturday (and for Sam in Australia :bigcry:) it was the latter. That's why it's important for Sam to get off to a good start today, so that Julia doesn't have any reason to start using her annoying Ana-fistpump.


i know this is off-topic but did anyone know this fact:-Sam is ambidextrous; she writes with her left hand and plays tennis with her right.

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/womens-health/life-features/celebrities/article/-/9678810/the-team-behind-sam-stosur/

I didn't know that :lol: Nice article btw, even if it's a bit dated (Lacoste still a sponsor, Narelle Sibte her fitness trainer).

She is one smart cookie. Maybe she should try hitting a left-handed forehand instead of her two handed backhand.

Sammy and Julia up third on centre court - about 4pm Stuttgart time.

:lol::sobbing: