STOSUR HAS DATE WITH MUGURUZA
THE Townsville Flames have kicked off their triple road double in style with a 94- 68 win over the Toowoomba Mountaineers.
Ainsley Walsh ( 23 points) and Darcee Garbin ( 21) spearheaded Townsville’s big win in Toowoomba, which started with the Flames edging ahead to a two- point advantage in the opening quarter before firing in the second.
Leading 58- 36 at halftime, the Flames went basket for basket with the Mountaineers, who could not work their way back into the contest despite a sensational individual performance from captain Donnaizha Fountain, who grabbed a match double- double of 37 points and 15 rebounds.
Haylee Andrews ( 10 points) and Micaela Cocks ( 11) also reached double digits for the Flames, while Shaina Pacey ( 10) provided an important contribution from the bench.
The win sets up tonight’s important showdown in Brisbane with the South West Metro Pirates, who lead the women’s Queensland Basketball League competition just one win ahead of the secondplaced Flames, who remain unbeaten five games into the season.
Miela Goodchild may make her playing return from injury tonight after sitting out last night’s encounter, having trained for most of the lead- up week.
The Townsville Heat also enjoyed a winning start to the big weekend, beating the Mountaineers in their men’s game 81- 73. GARBINE Muguruza stands between Sam Stosur and the glories of the French Open’s second week and the Australian knows nothing less than sustained excellence will suffice.
As one of the strongest players in tennis, Stosur knows controlled aggression is generally the recipe for major success.
But the US Open champion also concedes third seed Muguruza has oodles of power – and is never afraid to use it.
The last time the pair clashed in Paris, Stosur was steam- rolled 6- 2 6- 4 in 2016.
A tighter encounter in Brisbane last year and the Spaniard’s comparatively mediocre form heading into Roland Garros has left Stosur optimistic she can derail the reigning Wimbledon champion.
“Yeah, it’s gonna be tough and she ob- viously plays very well here and she likes it here as well and she’s been in the top 10 for a very long time,” Stosur said. “It’s certainly going to be a tough match- up for me but I’m certainly looking forward to the challenge.
“She hits the ball very hard, flat and deep and I do remember in that match she was hitting really good returns, really close to the baseline, which kinda straightaway puts me on the back foot.
“So I think serving is going to be key, not that that’s too dissimilar to any other day.
“And I guess just trying to combat her pace of shot so I’m going to have to be aggressive.”
Seeded third, Muguruza wants to atone for last season’s exit at the hands of Kristina Mladenovic – and not to panic as she occasionally does.