AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2023

Samantha Stosur

Press Conference

PRUE RYAN: Welcome, everyone, to what is Sam Stosur's last pretournament press conference, I'm going to say as a player.

We obviously are hugely proud of everything you've achieved, Sam. I'll throw it to Craig to have a few words.

CRAIG TILEY: Thank you, Prue. Thanks, Sam (smiling).

It was kind of surreal walking over here with Sam, when you realize as a player this will be her last time that she will face the press to answer those questions. I can guarantee it won't be the last time you'll face the press because one thing about Sam is what she did in her career as a tennis player will transcend what she does in her career as whatever that's going to be. We know it's going to be in the game, in tennis, helping support the next generation of athletes that are coming through.

I recall very many fond memories of Sam. When I arrived in Australia, it was just the beginning I think of the struggles you were having. The way you handled those was a true champion. There was no question at some point you were going to enjoy great success, which you did as a multiple Grand Slam winner both in mixed, in doubles, and of course the US Open title.

I also remember, it's great seeing the team over there that have pretty much been on the journey from the beginning with you. I know there's a couple missing, they're doing other things with younger players now.

Sam, we want to thank you from everyone in Australian tennis for what you've meant to the game, what you've meant to each of us individually as people. You've been a shining light to every single athlete or coach that can get great lessons from actually seeing it in front of them.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Thank you.

CRAIG TILEY: I can give a long list of things: your work ethic, your attitude, your preparation, and how you carried yourself both in success and in defeat.

I'm looking forward to working with you in the next step in your career. I know Moll is and Killer, Casey, the whole crew, looking forward to working with you in the next step.

I think you can look back and reflect and know that you've achieved everything you could possibly do, look back at it with great pride.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Thank you.

CRAIG TILEY: So thank you.

Over to now anyone for questions for, Sam. Well done.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Thank you.

PRUE RYAN: First question, Sam. You said in your post that it's with mixed emotions that you make this announcement. I think probably speak to all of us in this room, whether it's the media who have covered your career or the team that supported you. Can you talk us through a little bit perhaps about the last few weeks as you've been planning this and thinking about it.

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I'll try to get through this without crying.

Look, it was always going to be a hard decision whenever it did come to this point. Like I said last year, when I stopped playing singles, I always wanted to finish here in Australia. Last year I wasn't ready to finish everything. So, yeah, played doubles last year. It just felt right to call it a day here, my home Grand Slam where obviously I have huge support and friends and family, lots of people here.

It's certainly been a tough decision, but I think it was the right one.

PRUE RYAN: Questions for Sam.

Q. How much crying has there been? How much more is there going to be? What are you going to do? School runs eventually, cook, garden, what are you going to do?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I already cook. I already do that. I do need to pick up my gardening skills.

Look, like Craig already mentioned, I definitely want to stay in tennis. It's been my whole life. I couldn't imagine not coming into the NTC, you know, in a month's time or something like that.

I still would love to be involved in some capacity. Still got to work out exactly what that is going to be. I'm too passionate about it, too invested in what all the other players are doing to just walk away.

Yeah, I'll find something in tennis to do, for sure. But, yeah, otherwise just enjoy a bit of home life. Yeah, I guess pull my weight at home a little bit more often than what I've managed to get away with over the years.

But, yeah, whatever it is, I'm looking forward to this next phase, for sure.

Q. In terms of living kind of a nomadic life in a lot of ways that tennis players do for the last decade and more, how do you feel about kind of settling down and not having to board planes and live out of a suitcase, check into hotels?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, there's certainly parts of this life that I think I could probably speak for every player, we get a bit sick of packing the suitcase up, trying to get on a plane with your racquets and all that stuff. It gets a bit tiresome.

It's kind of funny. We always kind of wish sometimes we could be home more, not have to do that. Then I think when the time comes, probably there for three months, get itchy feet, where are we going next. It's kind of what we're used to.

I can go on a normal holiday now, do that kind of fun stuff that you kind of always think. I'm not going to do that now because I just want to go home, I just want to have home time.

It's going to be certainly very different. But, yeah, there's absolutely things I'm going to miss about being on tour and traveling, what being a professional tennis player brings to you. There's so much more out there, too.

We'll see what I end up doing. But I don't think I'm going to be bored or too hard finding things to do. There will be enough to do, for sure.

Like I said before, I'm just very passionate about this sport and the players we have. I'm sure someone will keep me busy.

Q. I wanted to follow up a little bit on what you were just saying and ask you, what do you think you'll miss the most? What aspects of this life you've been living for a while now will be the hardest to give up?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, just getting out on the court and playing competitively. I'm still going to hit balls, still going to go out there and do that sort of thing.

But even sometimes the buildup to a match isn't always the most pleasant time. You're nervous, a bit stressed. People around you can tell you have a match coming up, whatever else.

Even that, when that all goes, sometimes it's an uncomfortable feeling, but it's a familiar one. More so than that, just getting out there and playing, having people clap to see you do something good. Whatever it may be. It's just the act of getting out there and competing. Something I've done obviously my whole life.

To not have that element of tennis I think's going to be very strange for a little while. But, then, yeah, like I said, it's not all going to be gone. Even captaining United Cup, you still get those sort of feelings. Now I know what Moll feels like doing BJK Cup.

You find it in different ways. But getting out there and playing in front of everyone, having that support, is a very unique experience that really only professional athletes get.

Q. If you look back on your career, which one is the most memorable tournament or win? What is the achievement you are most proud of?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I mean, it's very hard to go past obviously winning the US Open in singles. That is obviously the pinnacle of what any player wants to do, is win a Grand Slam. That was certainly a dream of mine to achieve that, and I did. That's a moment I'll never forget.

But even there's individual matches that really stand out, moments in smaller tournaments. My first singles title win in Osaka. Moments like that that obviously get a bit overshadowed by winning a Grand Slam. But they're all steps along the way.

I've got many, many great memories of smaller tournaments, and then all through the phases of my career. It's really hard to kind of pick one.

I guess there's a few to look back on. So I'm very fortunate that I have so many great memories, yeah, from the sport, winning, losing, traveling, on and off the court. I've had a great time with meeting so many people, having that support.

It's been, yeah, just lovely to be able to kind of feel that anywhere in the world, not just here in Australia. I know I've been able to enjoy myself everywhere.

Q. Where do you feel women's tennis in Australia is at at the moment? How much of a hands-on role do you want to play in the future of that?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I mean, like I said, I still definitely want to be involved in tennis, kind of work out exactly where that fits.

But, look, I think it's unfortunate obviously Ajla has pulled out of here. We have Dasha also injured. There's a whole group of girls that are really pushing to try to get themselves inside the top hundred. They're great people, really good players who are trying to strive to become the next group that can really solidify their spot in the top hundred.

I'm sure they're going to get there one day. They just need to get over that next little hurdle. All of them have kind of been between 100, 130, got close, dropped out.

I do think success drives success. It's only going to take one to maybe get through that next spot and we'll see more coming through.

Yeah, I think it's obviously unfortunate not to have Ajla and Dasha in the draw this year.

Q. How would you describe the importance of tennis, in general, and this tournament in particular, to Australian sports fans? How would you describe, if it is a burden ever for a player from Australia to try to perform well here?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, I mean, this event is obviously one of the biggest ones on the tennis calendar. But in Australia or around the world, it's one of the biggest sporting events you can find. We're very fortunate in Australia to have one of the four Grand Slams, to play tennis and be part of that in your home country. Now I live in Melbourne, so my home city.

It's an incredible opportunity, chance to be able to be part of one of the biggest events in the sporting world. I think whether you're Australian or you're French or American or English, trying to do that in your home country, of course, there's more elements that come with it.

I think playing at home, it really brings out the best in a lot of players, if not all of them. We love playing in front of friends and family. We have the support. We have the crowd. There's nothing better.

Like I said, there's other things that come along with it, but I don't think not one person would trade being able to be in that position for anything else.

Q. Just looking back on your career, when you think about your accomplishments, the titles, US Open, Paris, doubles as well, are you flabbergasted by what you accomplished? Do you look back on it and say, Yeah, that's what I thought I could do? What is your perspective on what you did?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I didn't know what I could do. I dreamt what I would like to do. I certainly achieved that and more.

Yeah, look, I think I did everything possible to be as good as I could be, tried everything. Whether coach suggests something, if they believed in it, I'd try it, I'd give it a go. If it didn't work, it was a way to try to improve.

One thing I'm very proud of is the fact that I know I did everything possible to do what I did. I think I'm happy with the way I've carried myself on court. It's always been important to me to, I guess, be how I was, compete hard.

If you get beat, you get beat. Shake hands and try harder the next day. Like I said, every win or loss got me to where I was.

Yeah, I certainly achieved way more than what I could have ever imagined. So I can walk away being very proud.

PRUE RYAN: Thanks very much, everyone. I think we have a little token of our esteem for Sam.

(Flowers presented.)

SAMANTHA STOSUR: I need to buy a bigger vase (laughter). Thank you, Craig.

(Applause.)