Hanging Tough

You know who has totally snuck under my radar this week? Sam Stosur.

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This is a little unusual, because I usually follow Slammin' Sammy pretty closely, given as she's one of the few good things Australian tennis has going for it at the moment. But in the all the lead up to Montreal next week, with the return of Rafa and Roger and the first pictures of Myla and Charlene and the announcement of their new playmate Baby Wawrinka, I've been a bit distracted when it comes to stuff happening on court this week.

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But no matter. I'm here for you now, Sam - Sam who is into the final of LA! How 'bout that?! And LA was a tough, tough field. Like, really tough. Sure there were no Williams sisters, but there was just about everyone else. And looking back at Sam's scores, she has had a pretty decent run. She's gone to three, but she hasn't had any total down-to-the-wire nailbiters. She's hanging tough and getting it done.

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And ain't that something.

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I seriously believe Stosur can be top ten after the US hardcourt season is over. She has so much in her game to like - her serve and her exquisite volleys probably top the list. She's only really recently come into her own on the singles court after being a doubles specialist and then having Lyme disease, but I like, like, LIKE what I see! And I think the major change is that she's learned to hang in there a whole lot better than she did - even over the last six months or so. I don't think the Stosur would choke away match points like she did against Serena in Sydney.

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No, Sammy is Slammin' and she's here to stay. I would dearly love for her to win LA, which is a biggish tournament - I think it'd be some great validation for all that she's achieved!

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Today's Results

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Legg Mason Tennis Classic (Washington)

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Juan Martin Del Potro def. Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

Andy Roddick def. John Isner, 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 7-5

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LA Women's Tennis Classic (Los Angeles)

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Samantha Stosur def. Sorana Cirstea, 6-3 6-2

Flavia Pennetta def. Maria Sharapova, 6-2 4-6 6-3