Samantha Stosur has vowed to use her year of disappointments and near-misses as motivation for a more successful 2013.
Australia’s grand slam winner will finish in the world’s top 10 for a third straight season, but remains less than content after failing to win a title in 2012.
The ninth-ranked Stosur blew a third-set service break to fall 6-2 4-6 7-5 to resurgent former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in the Kremlin Cup final in Moscow on Sunday.
The defeat from 3-1 up in the deciding set followed a loss to world No.1 Victoria Azarenka in the championship match in Doha in February and several other missed opportunities around the globe.
Stosur made semi-finals in Charleston, Tokyo, Osaka and Paris and quarters in Dubai, Stuttgart, Madrid, Cincinnati and New York.
The 28-year-old’s season highlight also proved her lowlight, with Stosur succumbing to unfancied Italian Sara Errani in the semi-finals at Roland Garros when a second final appearance and shot at Roland Garros redemption beckoned.
Stosur’s other rueful defeat was a third-set tiebreak loss to Azarenka as defending US Open champion in September.
“At the end of the day, you want to win titles. I made two finals this year and came up short in both,” Stosur said.
“This one (in Moscow) was very close and there’s been other tournaments where I had good opportunities and made it to semis.
“So I got close, but it’s disappointing not to walk away with a title this year, having done so the last few years.
“But I’ll try to use that to motivate myself to try to do better next year.”
Stosur will end 2012 as a frustrated observer at this week’s WTA Championships in Istanbul.
The Queenslander was a semi-finalist at the season-ending championships in 2010 and 2011, but has only qualified as first reserve this year.
The world’s top eight will fight for the title – and lucrative purse – from Tuesday, with Stosur sweating on a last-minute withdrawal or injury to get a run.
“Time will tell if I get to play another match this year,” she said.
“If I get to play, I’ll be as prepared as I can be.”
Stosur trailed Wozniacki by a set and 4-3 before reeling off five straight games to gain the upper hand in the Russian capital.
“I got off to a good start in the third and really had the momentum,” she said.
“At 3-1, that was a tight game and I feel like I had chances but I also feel like I went for the right thing and missed by a couple of inches.
“Then I played a poor service game and, before you know it, you’re right back even and you’ve got to keep fighting and pushing.
“It’s disappointing to lose, but to make it to another final is still a good achievement.”
