SAMANTHA STOSUR SPEAKS TO EUROSPORT DURING INSTAGRAM LIVE SESSION

What have you been up to at home during this period since the tour was placed on hold?
We can go outside, I’ve been down to the local primary school these last few days and had a hit on the wall which has been fun. Today I bit of gardening which was exhausting and have been growing some rhubarb and passion fruit. All sorts of things, now I’ve got to learn to keep it all going.

How many hours do you dedicate to keeping yourself fit these days?
It’s varying from day-to-day. I’m finding it hard to stick to a daily routine. You can have the best intentions but then things can get away. This week I have been a lot more diligent again and in my plan in my head of what I wanted to do, just trying to mix it up and have some fun and do some different things.

How much do you miss playing tennis and being on the tour?
I’ve been on the tour for 17 or 18 years now and last week was my first birthday in Australia for that long. It was actually nice!

Is it tough to not be able to go out onto a tennis court and play?
It’s really difficult not hitting because I love practising. To have that gone every day… my whole day revolves around playing tennis as it does for all the players. We actually all enjoy being out on the court and training. It’s a bit of an adjustment but everyone is in the same boat. It’s probably going to be like this for a little while, but you get your head around it and find other things to fill your days. I have to say my days seem to be going so fast and then they’re gone – and then they come around again.

Who is your favourite doubles partner?
It’s a tough question – I’m going to make someone happy and someone not very happy. I’ve had lots of great doubles partners. I think back earlier on, I was playing with a friend of mine Bryanne Stewart from Australia – we made the semis at Wimbledon one year, won a couple of tournaments that year so that was great doing it with a friend. Then I played with Lisa Raymond, who I have had most of my success with - we won a couple of Grand Slams and did great, so I have to say Lisa was a pretty good partner. And more recently with Zhang Shuai, we won the Australian Open.

What’s the most valuable tip a coach has given you?
There have been a few. But first and foremost, you have to want to be there and enjoy it. Regardless of how you hit your forehand, of how you serve or whatever is going on – I think if you can enjoy the whole process then you have a much better chance of being able to do all those things well.

Do you appreciate playing tennis more than you did 15 years ago?
Yes, I think you probably appreciate it more because when you are younger it’s just what you do and you don’t know any different – you just do it and it’s always going to be there.

Sometimes experience is great, but it’s a double-edged sword and sometimes experience is not so easy because you expect more of yourself. This time away with coronavirus will probably give all players a better appreciation of what we do every single day of the year.

Do you think there will be any tennis this year?
I really don’t know but I think it’s going to be very hard – the whole world has got to be under control before we can start travelling around, so I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I hope it does, but I’m not going to hold my breath for it.

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