Australian Open: Sam Stosur knows she can beat Serena Williams when it counts

Samantha Stosur of Australia (R) celebrates with the championship trophy alongside Serena Williams of the United States (L) who poses with the second place trophy after their Women's Singles Final match of the 2011 US Open. Source: Getty Images

Start of sidebar.

I'M not scared of Serena.

That is the bold declaration from Aussie Sam Stosur, who says the American star she overpowered to snatch the US Open two years ago is "not immortal" heading into the Australian Open.
Serena Williams, beaten only once since June last year, has a firm stranglehold of women's tennis and is the unbackable favourite at the year's first grand slam.
The fear factor exists among the women's ranks, expect when it comes to Stosur - who knows she can beat Williams when it counts.
"I've beaten her three times and I think she has beaten me six times," Stosur told News Limited Newspapers.
"So, knowing you have had that success in the past makes a big difference.
"She's not immortal (to me) because I've had a good time against her.
"But no doubt she is the one to beat at the moment - she is on a great run and her confidence is sky high."
Stosur is on the opposite side of the draw and would not meet Williams until the final if she can get that far.
That might prove to be a tough proposition as the No.9 seed admits she is underdone following ankle surgery late last year.
"In some ways yes it has (set me back)," Stosur said.
"But it is what it is - you can't necessarily pick and choose sometimes when these things have to be done.

  Unfortunately it got done at the end of November and delayed my training until this point."

The grand slam winner is lacking match practice, but said there was nothing she could do about that now.
"I'm doing all the things I probably would have been doing three or four weeks ago," Stosur said.
The Queenslander has had a less than ideal lead up to the year's first grand slam, losing her past five matches in Australia. But the former US Open winner is adamant it is not playing on her mind before her opening round clash against world No.86 Kai-Chen Chang.
"First rounds in grand slams, no matter who you play, always have that element where you're nervous and it is a tough one to get through," she said.
"But I feel like I am getting better each day."