For the first time in months, Sam Stosur has resumed training with a real tennis ball.
The Australian tennis champion has been reduced to knocking around a lightweight substitute - often used by younger children just starting in tennis - as Stosur continues her recovery from a fractured hand sustained in the fourth round of the French Open this year.
The injury took longer than expected to heal, meaning she was demoted to spectator status for Wimbledon and the grass court season.
But Stosur said she never considered hanging up the racquet for good.
"Even this time out with injury, I've never once thought I've enjoyed this time at home, I don't want to do it anymore. I'm probably more motivated now than I have been in recent times."
After early losses in Brisbane and Sydney at the beginning of this year, a cloud was cast over the 33-year-old's form.
Stosur pays a visit to a community tennis club Source: SBS
But Stosur denies she's been consistently below par on the court.
"Before I hurt myself at the French, I thought I was playing some of the best tennis I've played in many many months. So I had won eight-nine matches straight and I felt like I was in a really good position."
But she's still yet to match the highs of her 2011 season.
That year, Stosur reached a career high of fourth in the world and won her first and only Grand Slam, the US Open.
A victory made even sweeter in that her opponent in the final was fierce rival Serena Williams.
"I'm very proud of that fact and it was on the biggest stage possible. The next time we played after New York she beat me pretty easily but I still got to hold that trophy and that's all that matters," she said with a laugh.
Samantha Stosur of Australia and Serena Williams pose with the trophies at the U.S. Open 2011 Source: AP (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
With a Grand Slam singles and nine WTA titles to her name, retired tennis star Todd Woodbridge said he considers Stosur one of the greatest in Australian tennis history.
"I look at Sam Stosur and think she is one of the best we've had in tennis, that's male or female. I look at her as being one of the most successful players we've ever had."
And 18 years after she got started, Stosur said more success is on the horizon.
"The ultimate would have to be winning another slam. Who knows. It's not an easy thing to do but if I could that I would be extremely happy."
The US Open begins the last week of August.
SBS's US Open coverage will commence Wednesday, September 6, during the quarter finals.
