12 September 2011 | Tennis Queensland

It has been 31 years since an Australian female has won a grand slam, and Samantha couldn’t have done it in a more elegant style when she defeated American former world no.1, and multiple grand slam champion, Serena Williams in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

Against the home crowd favourite, Stosur pounced, making the most of her opponent’s unforced errors.

“After that first set I sat down and I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and I thought, ‘OK, I’m up a set now,” said Stosur.

“I’ve got a chance to win one out of the next two and I’ve got a chance.”

But the smooth sailing ended at the beginning of the second set after Williams was penalised for “intentional hindrance” by chair umpire Eva Asderaki.

Williams had roared “come on” after hitting what she thought to be a winner, the problem being that her roar came as Stosur managed to get the edge of her racquet to the ball.

An already agitated Williams’ boiled over, delivering a series of tirades and menacing looks at Asderaki.

“Don’t even look at me,” she shouted up at Asderaki. “If I see you in the corridor don’t even walk past me… a code violation for expressing my opinion, we’re in America… you’re unattractive inside…”

The incident brought the crowd to life and the American threatened to produce one of her trademark comebacks.

“It was the loudest I ever felt a crowd in my whole entire life,” Stosur said.

“You’re right in the middle of it.

“It was definitely a quite overwhelming feeling.

“But once I hit that next ball in the court and started playing again, I felt settled.”

The Queenslander showed grace and humility both on and off the court in what will go down as one of Australia’s proudest sporting moments- our Sam winning a Grandslam Championship.