AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2022

Samantha Stosur

Press Conference

A. PAVLYUCHENKOVA/S. Stosur

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Just talk us through your emotions right now after your final singles match of your career.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, look, it feels good. Yeah, it was a good match. I actually feel like I played pretty well, so I'm happy with the fact that that was the last one. I still feel good about what I was able to do out there. Pavs was just too good.

I think from that aspect, it was nice to I guess finish against someone like her. We've played many, many times. We've known each other for a long time, played with each other. To kind of finish with someone you know and really respect as a person and player, that was kind of, yeah, I guess a perfect ending. So very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does retirement look like, Sam?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I'm still playing doubles. I'm not completely retired. It kind of feels weird now, like what do I do now (smiling)?

Look, I think it's obviously going to be a little bit strange waking up tomorrow thinking, Okay, I don't have singles to prepare for or anything like that, where the focus will potentially shift now.

Like I've said all along, I feel good about the decision, and whatever comes next is going to be good and I'm excited for that.

Q. What do you think a daily schedule is going to be like now?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I mean, I'll still I guess -- I'll still wake up and go to practice, do whatever training. I guess in some ways that will look a little bit different now. Might be nice to not have to cover the full court. You can do things in half a court, all that sort of thing.

I was feeling a little bit beaten after that first match. I did feel a little bit sore the next day, a couple little niggles.

Yeah, look, I think it's going to be -- playing doubles, I'm obviously going to still put everything into it I possibly can. You can't do things half on this tour. You still got to be committed, be ready to go.

Probably won't change too much in all honesty. But I think playing more of a limited schedule will obviously give me some more time with Evie. That will be nice.

Q. You came to Japan quite often. You have big fans in Japan. I still remember after you won US Open you talked about the night which you spent stationed in Fukuoka. Can you share your experience or memory in Japan.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I mean, I've got many memories playing in Japan. One of my first -- probably was my first trip without a coach or anyone, I traveled with another friend of mine, we played 10,000s. We played four 10,000s over there. There ended up being four or five of us from Australia kind of traveling as a group.

9/11 actually happened the third tournament. We were all scared we weren't going to be able to get home or anything like that. Right from the first time I traveled there, I loved it. I had a great time. I played very well. I don't know why, but I always seemed to play well in Japan. I love playing there. That's obviously continued through my whole career, having success in Osaka and being in Tokyo, everything else.

Yeah, Japan's always been one of my favorite places to go and play.

Q. There's a big recent tradition in Australia of them naming arenas after former Australian champions. Where would you like Samantha Stosur Stadium to be?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I haven't thought about that (smiling).

If there's one in the pipeline, then wherever it may be, that would be, I mean, quite an honor obviously. Not on my radar. But, yeah, that would be, like I said, an honor if that was to happen one day.

Q. Todd Woodbridge said yesterday your career had been underappreciated by Australian tennis fans. Do you agree with that? Looking back at some of the disappointments you've spoken before at the Australian Open, the criticism that's come with that, how do you look back on that now?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Look, I don't know if I'd necessarily say it was from the fans. Look, I think it's one of those things. I've had success outside of Australia, really before social media all took off and that became such a huge part of the media really.

I think, yeah, in some ways I was never able to play my best tennis here in Australia a lot of the time. I still made fourth round a couple of time, but that seems to be not a good result when you've won a Grand Slam in another country.

Look, I'm proud of what I've been able to do. I've always felt support from the public. Even if I'm in the supermarket, I've had that many people over the years come up to me and say, Congratulations, love watching you play, all that sort of thing.

I've never felt it from that point of view from the fans, so it's been a nice ride. I think playing out on that court the last two days, I really felt the support from everyone. That was a really nice way to I guess go out and feel that.

So, yeah, regardless of what my results have been here in singles, I've always enjoyed playing here.

Q. Obviously the US Open would be the highest of highs for you. If there was any aspect that you'd like to revisit and change, even if it was here or elsewhere, would there be anything?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't think so. I mean, the old saying I think everything happens for a reason.

I mean, I'd love to go back and win the French. Maybe losing that match helped me win the US Open. You don't know. Yeah, that was certainly a tournament where, I mean, besides winning the US Open, Roland Garros was probably my most successful Grand Slam. I've got many good memories there of playing great players, somehow getting through those matches, having great results there. I've always loved playing over there.

So, yeah, maybe a French Open title would have been nice. Doesn't matter.

Q. Even though you're still playing, you haven't fully hung up the racquets, what will you miss the most?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: To be honest, I think moments like the other day: playing and getting pumped up. It was like I was in the semis trying to get into the final. I was just riding it and enjoying the moment (laughter).

I think being able to feel those emotions. Having a crowd behind you, feeling like, yeah, I'm going to go for this shot now, have it come off, that's what you play for. Those are the moments you dream of when you're a little kid, being on a big court, beating someone really good, hitting a great shot or anything like that.

That doesn't really go away even at my age. You still feel that enjoyment out there. I think, yeah, days like today and on Tuesday, just that energy and emotion, yeah, you can't get that usually in normal things. I think that's something really special.

Q. A lot of doubles for you and mixed doubles. Do you think you're going to play again with Peng Shuai?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I've actually never played with Peng Shuai. I'm playing here now with Zhang Shuai. We're going to continue playing throughout this year.

Q. Younger players say they have been influenced by your style of tennis. You see little Sam Stosurs running around the tour. What does that mean for you as a legacy in terms of your tennis?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: That's an incredible thing to hear from obviously -- obviously we're friends, compatriots, but we're also competitors out here. To hear that, yeah, no, from Astra or anyone else, it kind of gives you goosebumps a little bit.

I thought that about Steffi Graf and Monica Seles when I was growing up. They're incredible. If someone's ever looked up to the way I played or anything that I've done, then I think that's the ultimate kind of accolade really.

Yeah, I think that's incredible for someone to say.

Q. It was impossible not to hear a few boos from the audience when Craig Tiley came out to present your flowers after the match. How do you think the Australian Open has handled the Novak Djokovic saga? Have you been tested for coronavirus every day? We've heard different things from different players.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: It's funny you say that because somebody else told me everyone booed, but I actually didn't hear it, believe that or not. I didn't actually notice the boos.

Yeah, look, maybe not the time or place for that. Yeah, a little bit harsh. I think, look, it's an unfortunate situation that unfolded obviously over the last few weeks. I think now it's behind us and that's going to be a good thing.

I think if everyone could go back and change things, they probably would. Hopefully nothing like that will ever happen again in the future.

Q. You mentioned before the French Open. It begged the question then, What is the top line result, not tournament-wise, but match-wise, if you could put Sam Stosur tennis on a DVD, put it in a time capsule, what is the result that meant the most to you?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: That's hard to narrow down to one, especially when taking US Opens out of it.

I don't know. Maybe beating Henin in Roland Garros that 2010 in the fourth round. She obviously won quite a few French Opens. She was obviously still a champion of the sport. To beat her after losing the first set, that's probably one of the, yeah, most proud moments I've had actually talking about a single match.

I could sit here for awhile and name a few other moments, but, yeah, that's definitely right up there.