By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE |Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:58pm EST
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Once resembling a hare in the headlights of a nation`s expectations, a more assured Sam Stosur says she is glad to be the standard-bearer for Australia`s hopes for a first home grand slam champion in more than three decades.
The late-blooming 26-year-old Queenslander has arrived in Melbourne Park after the best flavor of her career, bringing a French Open final, a global ranking of six and a new purpose to embrace the aid that she once shied away from.
"Much better (equipped) this time round, I guess I`ve definitely learned a lot and experienced a lot more in the final 12 months and 18 months and definitely got used to the point that I`m in now," Stosur told reporters after smashing an ice sculpture with her racket to afford a sponsor`s marquee.
Stosur has made eight previous trips to Melbourne Park, but never passed the 4th round, and each campaign has heaped a little more force on her muscular shoulders.
Expectations reached fever pitch in the lead-up to end year`s tournament after she emerged a surprise semi-finalist at Roland Garros and over the class with her first title at Osaka.
Stosur survived some opening rounds before wilting during her match against eventual champion Serena Williams to end Australia`s hopes for another year.
Being Australia`s brightest grand slam scene and beholding her blonde, freckled face up on billboards took its price on Stosur, who admitted she had struggled to cope with her new profile.
But 12 months on, and confidently working a microphone in movement of a huge media throng, nerves appeared in poor supply for Stosur, who rates herself a fortune to end her country`s wait for a home champion since Chris O`Neil in 1978.
HEWITT BOOST
"Hopefully (the preceding year`s) going to put me in a safe place for this year`s tournament," she said.
"The more time you get to get this form of care and acting in face of these crowds can alone serve you.
"A lot of things have got to compensate for you to win a grand slam. You`ve got to work extremely well, maybe get a bit lucky sometimes and consume all the pieces come together.
"Hopefully the following 14 days can be that way for me but there`s a long way to go from first turn to taking the case but I`ll definitely be doing everything I can to try and get there."
Stosur has interpreted the cape of the country`s top prospect from men`s two-time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, who will charge up for a record 15th Australian Open campaign.
Hewitt`s halcyon days of lifting grand slam trophies are well behind him, but the injury-prone 29-year-old had a welcome shot of trust in the work of the Kooyong title on Saturday where he beat ailing 12th-ranked Frenchman Gael Monfils in square sets.
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