SAM STICKS UP FOR SCOT AS MURRAY TAKES BOW

SAM Stosur has set aside preparations for her 17th Australian Open tilt to pay tribute to fellow grand slam winner Andy Murray.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, hailed Murray as one of the most powerful supporters of women’s rights after the Scot outlined retirement plans.

“It will be really said to see him go,” Stosur said ahead of her first-round clash with Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska on Tuesday.

“He’s been a fantastic player, champion. He’s been a massive advocate for women’s tennis and women’s sport in general.

“I know in the locker room whenever we hear him kind of stick up for us and say stuff we’re like ‘Yeah, go Andy.’

“He’s gonna be missed for sure. So let’s hope he does get to Wimbledon, at least, and do that.

“He’s a great guy, so it will be sad to see him go.”

Murray yesterday fought back tears as the 31-year-old revealed he had decided to quit the sport after Wimbledon in June because of chronic hip soreness.

“I’m in a better place than I was six months ago, but I’m still in a lot of pain,” he said.

Stosur, 34, returns to Melbourne Park in search a career-best showing at the Open, having reached the fourth round in 2006 and ’10.

HE’S GONNA BE MISSED FOR SURE. SO LET’S HOPE HE DOES GET TO WIMBLEDON AT LEAST

SAM STOSUR ON ANDY MURRAY

The Gold Coaster is keen to snap a depressing run of three consecutive first-round exits at the Open.

If she handles the explosive and erratic grand slam debutant Yastremska, Stosur would probably face Spanish 23rd seed Carla Suarez Navarro.

Success there could catapult the Gold Coaster into a rematch of the 2011 US Open final with Serena Williams.