Stosur can end Aussie women's title drought in French Open: Pratt

Sydney, May 21(ANI): Former Australian tennis star Nicole Pratt has backed Samantha Stosur to break a 30-year drought for Australian women's tennis by winning the French Open, which begins on Sunday.

Australian woman have failed to taste success at a Grand Slam event since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won Wimbeldon in 1980, but Pratt believes that Stosur has the experience to go all the way at Roland Garros.

"She has now had enough experience with the pressure of being a top player, making the French Open semis last year and I really think she is coming into her own in terms of maturity," Fox News quoted Pratt, as saying.

"If Sam can just get a few wins early on I am going to pick her to win the French. I think she will handle the pressure quite well," she added.

Stosur has had a successful run leading to the tournament, having won 14 of her past 16 matches on clay surfaces and losses only to Justine Henin and Venus Williams.

Pratt has been keeping a close watch on Stosur and said her results coming in to the tournament are reflective of her recent form.

"I watched her play in Madrid last week and she is very clear about what she is trying to do on the court. She is looking extremely fit and confident," Pratt said. (ANI)