Samantha Stosur is set for a 19th Australian Open singles campaign, the former US Open champion due to be handed the final women’s wildcard ahead of next month’s grand slam.
The 36-year-old made her debut at Melbourne Park when Jennifer Capriati won her third and final grand slam title in 2001 and has only missed one since, due to illness, in 2008.
The Gold Coast talent’s 18-18 record at her home slam – she hasn’t reached the second round since 2015 – belies an incredible career that includes a final and two semi-final appearances at the French Open and a combined six doubles and mixed doubles crowns on top of her 2011 US Open success.
After spending 16 years inside the world’s top 100, the former world No.4 has drifted into three figures to now sit outside the direct entry zone.
Stosur’s partner Liz Astling gave birth to their first child last year and she hasn’t played a WTA event since March, though the Queenslander did participate in the domestic UTR Pro Tennis Series in November.
Australians Daria Gavrilova, Astra Sharma, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova, Destanee Aiava and China’s Wang Xiyu have already been handed wildcards for the women’s main draw.