Grand slam champion Sam Stosur’s retirement rocks Aussie tennis – with one local star left ‘crying her eyes out’ by announcement as athletes react to news
- Aussie tennis veteran Sam Stosur has announced her professional retirement
- The 38-year-old will appear in both doubles formats at the Australian Open one last time
- Stosur rose to a career-best world no.4 singles and no.1 doubles ranking during the 2000’s
The retirement announcement of tennis veteran Sam Stosur has prompted a wave of tributes for the major champion – with one former star ‘crying her eyes out’ after hearing this year’s Australian Open will be the star’s swan song.
The Melbourne-based major is set to hand one of our much-loved greats of the domestic game an emotional send-off.
Samantha Stosur enters the court in preparation for Team Australia’s Semi-Final against Team Great Britain during the Billie Jean King Cup
Stosur declared via Instagram on Saturday night that her 21st Australian Open will be her final tournament as she takes to the court in both mixed and women’s doubles.
The 38-year-old, famously won the 2011 US Open singles crown by beating Serena Williams, said she was ‘looking forward to getting on the court one last time in front of my amazing fans, who are the reason I go out there and play the sport I love, and enjoying this wonderful ride one last time’.
‘Even though I’ve made the decision to retire from the sport I absolutely love, a small part of me would be happy to keep playing forever,’ Stosur wrote.
Sam Stosur kisses the US Open trophy after upsetting world no.1 Serena Williams in a classy straight sets win, 2011
Australian tennis personalities have since swamped her socials with touching tributes, particularly her former doubles partner, Rennae Stubbs.
‘So here we go! I knew this was coming yet here i am, reading your words and crying my eyes out!’ Stubbs replied on Instagram.
‘Your class, professionalism, dedication and love & respect for the sport, your fellow competitors and the people around you, are unmatched. We were friends first, then competitors, doubles partners and a collaboration all in one. I can honestly say, there was NEVER a bad day in any of it with you.
‘Watching you go from that unsure kid with talent, to a hall of fame career was a pleasure to witness.’
Stosur (L) and Rennae Stubbs (R) pose for a photo at the RitZ Carlton Hotel in Qatar during a 2009 players party
Stosur debuted in 1999 as a 15-year-old and rose up the ranks to a career-best No.4 in women’s singles.
In 2009 Stubbs and Stosur finished just short in what was a wild doubles campaign as Venus and Serena Williams knocked off the Aussie duo in the final at Wimbledon.
Stosur also held the No.1 women’s doubles ranking in 2006.
Fellow Aussie tennis players Storm Sanders, Matt Ebden and Priscilla Hon all thanked the star for her infectious positivity and ‘role-model’ character.
Stosur pumps her fist during the 2011 US Open women’s championship final – it was her sole singles major title
The Queenslander has 28 doubles titles to her name and nine singles crowns.
Australia erupted when Stosur defeated then-world No.1 Williams in straight sets to pull off an incredible underdog win.
Throughout her career Stosur has amassed over $20million in prize money.
The powerful right-hander will be looking to replicate her 2005 Australian Open success, where she took out the mixed doubles crown with Scott Draper.
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