Australian Stosur claims first Grand Slam with 6-2, 6-3 victory over three-time champion at Flushing Meadows

NEW YORK - Samantha Stosur never stopped believing she could join the ranks of Australian tennis greats with a Grand Slam singles title, but even she didn't expect it to be so easy against the most dominant player of her generation.

Stosur displayed power and poise as she swept aside 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams on Sunday, shrugging off an angry outburst from the American in the second set to put her name alongside such legends as Margaret Court and Evonne Goolagong.

"I didn't think that I'd be able to do it in 6-2, 6-3, that's for sure," Stosur said.

Even after she'd surged through the first set - winning the last 12 points - Stosur thought she'd have a long afternoon ahead.

"After that first set I kind of sat down and I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and I thought, 'OK, I'm up a set now. I've got a chance to win one out of the next two and I've got a chance.'"

In the end, however, she completely out-played Williams, breaking her three times in the second set and surrendering her serve just once.

Most impressively, she kept her composure as Williams lost hers, incensed by the chair umpire's decision to dock her a point when she called out "c'mon" mid-rally after a forehand she thought was a winner.

Through it all, Stosur said, "I just tried to keep playing each game, each point, and stick to my game plan, stick to my guns, and not leave anything to chance."

It's the same formula she's used throughout a career that has had its ups and downs.

Her US Open triumph was just the third singles title of a career in which she long seemed destined to shine only in doubles.

Her 23 women's doubles titles include two Grand Slam victories, at the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open, and she owns two mixed doubles major crowns.

A bout with debilitating Lyme Disease in 2007 made her even more determined to pursue a singles breakthrough.

"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," Stosur said.

"I had that great success in doubles and that was fantastic, but once I got sick and got over that illness, then I didn't want to leave anything to chance."

Stosur's hard work paid off with a trip to the Roland Garros final last year.

While she fell to Francesca Schiavone, she said her run there - which included a quarter-final victory over Williams - had stood her in good stead when her chance came again.

"I think I was able to draw on a lot of that experience from the French Open," she said.

Now that she's brought a women's Grand Slam title to Australia for the first time since Goolagong won Wimbledon in 1980, Stosur is hoping the victory will be a springboard to more success.

"I'd like to be able to continue this," she said. "Hopefully this is a new beginning for me as a player."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Australia's last female Grand Slam winner Evonne Goolagong on Monday hailed Stosur's "outstanding" US Open victory, saying it would inspire a new generation.

"Her 6-2 6-3 win over Serena Williams topped off an outstanding tournament, including prevailing in the longest-ever women's match at the US Open," said Gillard, who phoned Stosur to personally congratulate her after the match.

"She has shown great determination and skill to win the US Open and everyone involved with tennis in Australia will be celebrating with her today," she added.

Gillard said the victory boded well for the future of Australian tennis, which has struggled to produce a top quality women's player since the Goolagong era.

"Her win will encourage the next generation of young Australian players to take to the court," said the prime minister.

"This is a great achievement and shows the future of Australian tennis is on the rise following other Grand Slam successes earlier this year, with Ashleigh Barty and Luke Saville winning the junior titles at Wimbledon."

Goolagong, a former world No 1 who won seven Grand Slam singles titles, said that Stosur ending Australia's Grand Slam drought was "absolutely wonderful".

"She's come a long way and I'm just very proud of her," she said. "I have never seen her look so fit, she was moving well on the court. I do actually call her 'twinkle toes' because a few years ago she was not moving that well."

Agence France-Presse