TWO years ago, Samantha Stosur regarded the French Open title as the great opportunity that she let slip through her hands as Francesca Schiavone staged her memorable victory celebrations on the clay of Roland Garros.
Finally Stosur became a full fledged Grand Slam champion at last September’s US Open, and with the 28 year-old Australian’s confidence boosted she is now viewing this current fortnight as a supreme opportunity to conclude unfinished business.
With major contenders like Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka eliminated from the event, along with former champions Schiavone, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova, a clear route back to the final is now emerging for the sixth seed.
Stosur has yet to drop a set in this year’s event and she maintained an impressive record with a 7-5 6-4 win over American teenager Sloane Stephens, who this time last year was forcing her way through to the semi-final of the junior event. Now Dominka Cibulkova, victorious over top seeded Azarenka, lies in wait in the quarter finals.
“For sure it’s a good opportunity and things are beginning to open up but there’s still two matches to go before I can think about the final,” said Stosur. “I learned a lot winning the title in New York last year. I think I handled the occasion well and didn’t really let anything bother me. What I’m hoping is that will stand me in good stead here.”
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Italy's Sara Errani reached her second Grand Slam quarter-final of the year with a straight-sets win against Svetlana Kuznetsova. The 21st seed, who knocked out Casey Dellacqua, Melanie Oudin and Ivanovic en route to round four, will play Germany's Angelique Kerber in the last eight.
Kuznetsova, the 2009 champion, was overwhelmed 6-0 by Errani in the 30-minute opening set, winning only 29% of points on her first serve. The second set on a windy Court Philippe Chatrier was much closer but the Russian, seeded 26th, was let down by a string of unforced errors. Her frustration was clear as Errani won 7-5 in 63 minutes.
“I have played good games but I must stay concentrated,” the Italian said later. “I am happy, I am curious to see how far I can go, what level I can get to."
Kuznetsova, who recently began working with Hernan Gumy, Marat Safin’s former coach, said her performance was "really disappointing ... I just have to go back and work on my game. I still have to adjust some things. You cannot just start to work with a coach one week before the French Open".
Errani, 25, is a dangerous opponent on the Paris clay and has won three tournaments this year, in Budapest, Barcelona and Acapulco. She was beaten by Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January.
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Kerber, the 10th seed in Paris, progressed to the quarters with a 6-3 7-5 victory against Petra Martic of Croatia. She beat Errani 6-1 6-2 in their only previous meeting, in Hobart this year. The German won the Paris indoors title in February, beating Marion Bartoli in the final, and defeated Caroline Wozniacki to lift the Copenhagen Open in April.
Additional reporting by Warren Shore