STOSUR ON SONG AFTER CRUSHING FLIPKENS
Cavs say they are top dogs
SAM Stosur has stormed into the French Open’s third round, highlighting growing claims to a second major title.
The 2011 US Open champion overwhelmed Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) and is increasingly viewed as one of the favourites to emerge from a depleted draw.
Stosur was too accomplished for Flipkens, smoking 33 winners and only 16 unforced errors. She next plays either Petra Kvitova or Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
Stosur smothered Flipkens with power and accuracy early but couldn’t convert any of six break points in the Belgian’s first two service games.
Continuing to attack, Stosur was rewarded in the fifth game, when Flipkens cracked with a wild forehand volley to drop serve for the first time.
Growing in confidence as she dominated from the baseline, Stosur broke again in the seventh game before sealing the first set in 31 minutes.
The trend shaped to continue into the second set, but Flipkens staved off another serving crisis in the opening game before turning the screws on Stosur.
In command, Stosur faltered with an unforced forehand error to trail 1-3 as the contest tightened. But the Gold Coaster reacted to break back and square the set. BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS Cleveland are the clear underdogs in this year’s NBA finals – just don’t try telling them that.
“The whole underdog thing is funny to me because at the end of the day we are defending our title,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said ahead of the series with Golden State.
“We’re trying to repeat, which is so hard to do. I think we will use it as fuel. We will use it as motivation. I don’t feel like we’re underdogs.
“We match up well with them and I think they’d say the same about us.”