Biography
Samantha Jane Stosur, born on March 30, 1984, in Brisbane, Australia, became one of the top Australian tennis players of the 21st century. She went to Helensvale State High School on the Gold Coast before starting her professional tennis career. Stosur achieved the impressive feat of reaching world No. 1 in doubles on February 6, 2006, and held onto the ranking for 61 straight weeks. In singles, she reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4 on February 21, 2011, and stayed in the top ten for 165 weeks between March 2010 and June 2013.
Her biggest singles success was winning the 2011 US Open, where she beat Serena Williams in the final, becoming the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win a Grand Slam singles title. This victory was especially memorable after almost winning the 2010 French Open, where she reached the final by defeating former world No. 1 Justine Henin and then-current world No. 1 Serena Williams, only to lose to Francesca Schiavone. Throughout her career, she reached the semifinals of the French Open three times (2009, 2012, 2016) and consistently performed at the highest levels of tennis.
As a doubles player, Stosur was even more successful, winning eight Grand Slam titles in all categories. Her four women's doubles Grand Slam wins included victories with Lisa Raymond at the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open, and later wins with Zhang Shuai at the 2019 Australian Open and 2021 US Open. She also won three mixed doubles Grand Slam titles and one more women's doubles title, establishing herself as one of the top doubles players of her generation. Stosur was Australia's top-ranked singles player for 452 consecutive weeks from October 2008 to June 2017, showing remarkable consistency at the highest level.
Throughout her professional career, Stosur won 40 career titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, earning over $20 million in prize money. Her achievements included semifinal appearances at the WTA Finals in 2010 and 2011, three WTA 1000 finals, and a WTA Elite Trophy final in 2013. She officially retired from professional tennis, leaving a legacy as one of Australia's most successful players and a strong presence in both singles and doubles during the 2000s and 2010s.
Before Fame
Growing up in Queensland, Australia, Stosur went to Helensvale State High School while honing her tennis skills on the Gold Coast. Her journey to professional tennis started in her teenage years as she juggled schoolwork with intense training. The early 2000s was a time of change in women's tennis, with Serena Williams and Venus Williams dominating, creating openings for skilled players to stand out in both singles and doubles.
Stosur turned professional in the early 2000s and initially found more success in doubles, where her powerful serve and aggressive style were particularly effective. Teaming up with various doubles specialists helped build her reputation on the WTA Tour before her singles breakthrough, following a common path for players who are good at both singles and doubles.
Key Achievements
- Won the 2011 US Open singles title, defeating Serena Williams in the final
- Achieved world No. 1 ranking in doubles and held it for 61 consecutive weeks
- Won eight Grand Slam titles across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles
- Reached career-high singles ranking of world No. 4 in February 2011
- Earned over $20 million in career prize money with 40 total WTA titles
Did You Know?
- 01.She held the world No. 1 doubles ranking for 61 consecutive weeks starting in February 2006
- 02.Stosur was ranked as Australia's top singles player for 452 consecutive weeks from October 2008 to June 2017
- 03.She defeated both Justine Henin and Serena Williams during her run to the 2010 French Open final
- 04.Her 2011 US Open victory ended a 31-year drought for Australian women winning Grand Slam singles titles
- 05.She won Grand Slam doubles titles with partners from three different decades: Lisa Raymond in the 2000s and Zhang Shuai in the 2010s and 2020s