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Stosur takes country hopping in her stride


 

Originally published on: 24/02/12 11:37

As an Australian Sam Stosur is used to life as a globe-trotter. For the last month the US Open champion has been hopping on and off airplanes like a commuter changing buses. Having started the year in her homeland, Stosur flew to Switzerland to represent her country in the Fed Cup and then to Doha to play in the Qatar Open. By comparison, last week’s short journey to the Dubai Duty Free Championships must have felt like a walk to the shops.
 
Having lost in the Dubai quarter-finals to Jelena Jankovic, the world No.5 is now heading for the United States, where she will train in readiness for next month’s tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
 
How does she cope with the frequent travelling between time zones? “Not too bad actually,” Stosur said. “I think I try and sleep as much as I can on the flights. I think that first day is the most important thing when you land somewhere. If you get that all right, then you’re usually going to be OK.”
 
Like several of the players in Dubai, where the weather has been unusually chilly, Stosur has been feeling under the weather, with cold-like symptoms. “I think maybe it’s finally caught up with me,” she said after the defeat to Jankovic. “I definitely didn’t feel as good out there and felt a bit flat. Sometimes you don’t feel good. You can’t really use that as an excuse. You’re out there to play and you do your best on the day.”
 
She added: “This part of the year can sometimes be a bit tricky with those Fed Cup ties. Sometimes they’re not in the most perfect location for the upcoming tournaments, but it wasn’t too bad. I think maybe the weather conditions as well are playing a part. I’m not the only one who is sick. I think we’re all kind of suffering through it together.”

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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.