Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Samantha Stosur’s hardcourt confidence is rising with the approach of the US Open, which the Australian won in 2011. Now Stosur believes she has the game to play the spoiler to Serena Williams at Flushing Meadows as the No. 1 American tries to complete a calendar-year sweep of all four grand slam titles.

Stosur has been heading into the weekend at the tune-up event in Washington, with her eye on the major prize when the Open starts on August 31. Since Stosur beat Williams in the 2011 New York final, the American has not lost at her home venue, winning titles at the last three editions, and claiming eight of the past 13 slam singles trophies.

“I’ve always actually quite enjoyed playing Serena. I’ve got a game that disrupts her,” Stosur told Australian media after lifting a clay trophy this month in Austria. “You have to have the game. My game matches up well against Serena. I’ve got the kind of weapons that can bother her.

“No doubt she is going to be feeling the pressure, as much as you can when you’ve won four slams in a row and going for a fifth. You know she wants to get that calendar slam. She’s not immune to the nerves and pressure.”

Williams leads their career series 8-3 and has not lost a set in their last four encounters. But that kind of past is not enough to dull the competitive spirit of Stosur, ranked 21st. Williams is aiming to match the modern record of 22 women’s grand slam singles titles set by Steffi Graf and is then looking ahead to the all-time 24 held by Perth’s Margaret Court.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.