Stosur springs major surprise

Samantha Stosur continued her remarkable recovery from illness by posting an upset first-round win over Shahar Peer at the East West Bank Classic. The 24-year-old Australian, who spent eight months on the sidelines after contracting the potentially deadly Lyme Disease and viral meningitis, thrashed the 12th-seeded Israeli 6-1 6-1. Stosur, who has shot up to 87th in the world on the back of a good grasscourt season and a quarter-final appearance in California, had eight aces and won 83 percent (15-of-18) of her first-service points in needing just 52 minutes to eliminate Peer. Stosur's best ranking was 27th early last year. Hungarian Melinda Czink also pulled off an upset, ousting 13th-seed Virginie Razzano 6-3 6-3. Czink, who only made it into the draw after Svetlana Kuznetsova withdrew due to a right knee injury, broke... [read full story]