For much of her career, Samantha Stosur was known as one of the most physically gifted players on tour, with a powerful serve, heavy topspin forehand, and exceptional fitness. But behind her success was a story of resilience. While many remember her Grand Slam victory over Serena Williams at the 2011 US Open, fewer realize the personal and professional battles that shaped her journey to the top.
Stosur’s triumph in New York was more than just a career-defining win. It marked the peak of a singles journey shaped by setbacks and steady progress. The Australian had lost her previous Grand Slam final and entered the match as the underdog, facing Williams in front of a home crowd.
The win came amid on-court controversy and heightened pressure, but Stosur kept her composure to claim her first and only major singles title. But her legacy goes far beyond that one match. A former World No. 1 in doubles and World No. 4 in singles, and a multiple Grand Slam champion in both disciplines.
Beating Serena Williams in New York
Samantha Stosur’s win over Williams in the 2011 US Open final remains one of the most surprising results in a Grand Slam championship match. Coming into the final, Williams had not dropped a set in the tournament and was heavily favored to win in front of a home crowd. Stosur, however, played one of the most composed and tactically sound matches of her career, defeating the then 13-time major champion 6–2, 6–3.
Samantha Stosur won the 2011 US Open (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
In a 2023 interview with Weekend Today, Stosur revealed she was certain she was going to win. “I don’t know what it was – the night before when I got myself into the final, I just had this feeling I was going to win the next day,” she said. “I mean, that’s a moment that every athlete dreams of … being in the zone. Doing everything that you want to do. For whatever reason it happened that day for me.”
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The match is also remembered for a moment of controversy. Early in the second set, Williams shouted “Come on!” before a point had ended, prompting the chair umpire to award the point to Stosur for hindrance. The call sparked an extended confrontation between Williams and the umpire. “Aren’t you the one who screwed me over the last time I was here? You have it out for me?” Williams said. “I promise you that’s not cool. That’s totally not cool.”
Stosur stayed composed through the interruption. When asked about the moment in a 2011 interview with CBS News, she said, “Everything was happening so fast. I was just trying to get the ball and before I knew it, then there was all of that commotion up at the net. I just tried to think about what I was doing for the next point and get on with it, really.”
World No. 1 in doubles
Before her Grand Slam breakthrough in singles, Samantha Stosur had already built a decorated career in doubles. She became World No. 1 in 2006, finishing the year in the top spot alongside American Lisa Raymond. The pair won back-to-back WTA Tour Championships titles in 2005 and 2006, and captured Grand Slam victories at the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open. Together, they also reached three additional Slam finals.
Stosur would go on to win two more Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, lifting the 2019 Australian Open and 2021 US Open trophies with Zhang Shuai. In total, she reached nine major finals in women’s doubles, also finishing runner-up with Rennae Stubbs and Sabine Lisicki.
Shuai Zhang of China and Samantha Stosur of Australia celebrate the 2021 US Open (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Her doubles success extended to mixed as well. She won three Grand Slam mixed doubles titles—at the 2005 Australian Open with Scott Draper, the 2008 Wimbledon Championships with Bob Bryan, and the 2014 Wimbledon Championships with Nenad Zimonjić.
Stosur’s battle with Lyme disease
In 2007, Stosur was forced off the tour for 10 months due to a mysterious illness that left her drained and struggling to function. After months of uncertainty, she was eventually diagnosed with Lyme borreliosis—a tick-borne disease that can cause fever, severe fatigue, depression, and neurological symptoms.
“I didn’t know whether I was going to play again,” Stosur told Tennis Australia, reflecting on the period before an infectious disease specialist in the United States confirmed the diagnosis.
Stosur suffered from Lyme disease in 2007 ( Elsa/Getty Images)
Despite the setbacks, Stosur never lost faith in her recovery. “Nobody who I was seeing told me I would never play tennis again. I always just had belief that I was going to get better,” she said.
Life after tennis
Since stepping away from professional tennis, Samantha Stosur has taken time to reflect on her two-decade-long career and the perspective that only retirement can offer. Speaking in 2024 to Siren Sport, she shared how the shift away from the tour gave her space to fully appreciate what she accomplished on court.
“Obviously, a very different year compared to what I’ve been used to,” she said. “But I think it probably gives you the first time to really think about, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m really happy with my career. I’m very proud of what I achieved’.”
During her playing days, Stosur rarely allowed herself time to celebrate milestones. The focus was always on improvement, recovery, and preparing for the next challenge. “When you’re in it still, it’s kind of hard to give yourself a bit of a pat on the back, because you’re always looking for that next thing and driving for more success,” she explained.
Stosur’s forehand was widely regarded as one of the most powerful on tour (Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
Retirement gave her the clarity to recognize how much she had given to the sport. “When you do step away, it’s like, ‘Ah, that was pretty good. I’m very happy with that’. And I know I got everything out of my tennis that I possibly could have. So I didn’t leave the sport with any regrets,” she said.
Away from competition, Stosur has embraced a quieter routine focused on family life. She and her partner Liz Astling are raising their young daughter. She has also stayed connected to the sport through commentary work and appearances at major tournaments, as well as being the Billie Jean King Cup captain of Australia since 2023.
