Samantha Stosur is confident of finding her best form in time for the French Open after a frustrating start to 2015 continued in the Fed Cup.
Australia’s top-ranked player lost both singles rubbers in a 4-1 World Group loss to Germany in Stuttgart, leaving her with just two wins from seven matches played this year.
Stosur came within a point of beating German hero Andrea Petkovic in a three-set epic on Saturday but backed up for a disappointing straight-sets loss to Angelique Kerber on Sunday.
The results followed another modest Australian summer and while Stosur admits several aspects of her game need improvement, she isn’t panicking about her form.
“Even though I played a very good match (against Petkovic), you walk away pretty disappointed when you can’t get a rubber in for the team,” Stosur told AAP.
“I don’t think there’s anything glaringly bad with my game or anything, it’s just really knuckling down and fine tuning those little things.
“I don’t think (my best) is too far away but winning matches is certainly going to get me closer.”
World No.25 Stosur is sitting at her equal-lowest ranking since 2009 but has few points to defend between now and the French Open in May.
That will be in the back of her mind in upcoming hard court tournaments in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami and Charleston as she looks to climb and secure a top 16 seeding for Roland Garros.
“I know there’s big opportunities out there and I need to start playing that little bit better than I am to take advantage of them,” Stosur said.
“It (25th) is not where I want to be but things can change very quickly in tennis and sometimes a result here or there can turn things around.”
Stosur’s most consistent grand slam showings have come at the French Open, finishing runner up in 2010, reaching the semi-finals in 2009 and 2012 and losing to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round last year.
Many consider it her best chance to add a second slam to her 2011 US Open triumph and the 30-year-old tends to agree.
“I think I’ve got as good a chance as anyone,” Stosur said.
“You want to be trying to build some confidence going into the slams and if I can do that this time around, I’ll be feeling pretty good about doing well.”
