Stosur feels seedings setback

SAMANTHA Stosur isn’t happy about being usurped as Australia’s top-ranked woman at the Australian Open.

But could it free the world No. 42 to produce her best performance at Melbourne Park in years?

Stosur isn’t seeded at her home grand slam for the first time this decade, slipping below 18th seed Ashleigh Barty and Daria Gavrilova, the 23rd seed. The 33-year-old has no- toriously struggled to live up to her potential at her home grand slam.

In 15 appearances, Stosur’s best result has been two fourth-round matches. In 2006 she lost to comeback queen Martina Hingis in the last 16, and in 2010 Serena Williams beat the Queenslander en route to winning the title.

After landing in Melbourne ahead of the 2018 tournament, Stosur suggested the rise of her two compatriots might take some of the pressure off her, but she’d prefer to have the protection of a seeding.

“I never wished to be the third one, put it that way,” she said of her spot in Australia’s rankings pecking order.

“More than anything, I know what I can do and what I am capable of and how I can play.”