By Joe McDonald                                                        Photo Credit: Andy Kentla

(September 11, 2011) On paper, the women's final at the US Open seemed unfair. After all, you had Serena Williams on a mission and playing Aussie Samantha Stosur right after she smoked the No. 1 player in the world, Caroline Wozniacki.

But this is why you play the games.

Looking sluggish, Williams was unable to handle the strong serve and forehand return of her Aussie opponent, who beat the younger Williams sister, 6-2, 6-3 to win her first Grand Slam title.

"I'm still kind of speechless," an elated Stosur said.  "I can't actually believe I won this tournament.  I guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously just an unbelievable feeling, and you always, you know, hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it, is unbelievable."

No Sam, it's pretty easy to believe. During the last two weeks, the 27 year-old Aussie was able to silently plow through her half of the field to reach the semifinals and maybe had some fortune figuring out Angelique Kerber yesterday.

Then today with Williams playing less than 18 hours since disposing of Wozniacki, the veteran player took advantage.

Williams only had a 35 percent first serve percentage in the first set, and Stosur was able break Serena twice, putting her on her heels for the second.

And then Serena became Serena again.

Down 30-40 searing in the first game of the second. Serena called out, "Come on!" after hitting a winner, but because her scream occurred before the ball hit the court and Stosur was still making a play - it was out of reach - the chair umpire Eva Asderaki ruled verbal interference, which gave the game to the Aussie.

It seemed to fire up Serena, who proceeded to break back in the next game and then went to the chair and said something to the Asderaki.

Then during the break, Williams continued to verbally assault the umpire.

All the while, this seemed to rattle Stosur and fire up Williams for the first three game of the set. But then the tides turned when Stosur was able to break Williams on her next service game, putting the Aussie in the driver's seat. 

"Oh, for sure, if I was gonna win, I didn't think that I'd be able to do it in 6‑-2, 6-3, that's for sure," Stosur said. "After that first set I kind of sat down and I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and I thought, Okay, I'm set up now; I've got a chance to win one out of the next two and I've got a chance."

Verbal interference, short layovers and whatnot, none of these events can take away what a remarkable story Stosur has become. Back in 2007-08, she missed almost a full year with Lyme disease, which had many thinking her career would come to an end.

But ever the fighter, Stosur wouldn't even think about quitting.

"No, never," she declared. "I always tried to believe that it would be possible to come back from that, and I was very lucky that I did recover very quickly and get back on the court and do what I wanted to do."
   
"So if anything, it kind of made me open my eyes more that you don't necessarily always get a second chance. I wanted to take every opportunity I had, and I have now been able to fulfill that."

And when she came back, Aussie Sam rededicated herself. She was in the best shape of her life and started to make noise on the singles tour, much like she did in doubles earlier in her career, when she won the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open with Lisa Raymond and went to four other finals in the other two majors.

"I think the whole time I've been playing I wanted to be a good singles player and get the most out of myself on the singles court," she said. "I had that great success in doubles and that was fantastic, but, yeah, once I got sick and got over that illness, then I didn't want to leave anything to chance."

"Obviously now it was definitely the right decision to try and follow those dreams and those footsteps.  You know, I don't know.  It's something that I've worked very hard for, obviously, and now to actually get that huge reward is very pleasing."

"It's great. I mean, to win the doubles here in '05 and now do this is great, and maybe it's kind of funny that Lisa also won the doubles today, so it's kind of cool."

After today, Stosur's life changes. Unlike many other women on the tour, who have expectations, but no results, Aussie Sam now moves up to elite status.

Stosur also becomes an Australian hero, becoming the first Aussie woman to win the Open since Margaret Court in 1973 and the first major winner in 31 years, when Evonne Goolagong won Wimbledon.

And that's something very important to her and her upbringing.

"Oh, I think we grow up in Australia whether you're playing tennis or not, respectful and friendly, and, you know, nice people," Stosur said. "But playing tennis I think sometimes maybe nowadays it kinda gets lost. I think, you know, you've got to go out there and play between the lines and play a good match. You know, fair is fair, and you can walk off the court knowing I did a good job.
   
"That's it, really. So, you know, you try your best and try your hardest.  That's the way I was always taught to play and go out there and have respect for every single opponent you play."

And it showed today.