Sam Stosur, Scott Draper, Matt Moran support for mental health charity RALLY4EVER at tennis fundraising event
Australian tennis great Sam Stosur admits her most challenging matches were on home soil, with the media glare and patriotic fans weighing her down. Now, she is returning to the court as part of a mental health initiative.
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Australian tennis great Sam Stosur admits her most challenging matches were always on home soil.
“The media more than anyone else got on my back about my performances in January … because that’s [when tournaments are] played in Australia,” Stosur said. “And that’s where everyone wants to see the Aussies do well.”
The 39-year-old retired from professional tennis in January at her 21st appearance at the Australian Open.
Stosur said goodbye to an incredible career that saw her win the 2011 US Open singles, as well as four Grand Slam women’s doubles titles at the 2005 US Open, 2006 French Open, 2019 Australian Open, and 2021 US Open.
Now she is returning to the court – joined by fellow tennis champion Scott Draper and celebrity chef Matt Moran – in support of Mental Health Month at a charity tennis event held at Coogee’s Eastern Suburbs Tennis Club this Sunday.
Stosur said her support for the event, run by friend and former pro tennis player Louise Pleming’s community organisation RALLY4EVER and mental health charity Mood Active, came from recognition of the crucial role sport can play in bringing communities together.
Ms Pleming’s charity involves people from all walks of life – including those struggling with addiction, mental health challenges – using tennis meetups to rebuild social connections and put people on the path to recovery.
“We don’t judge,” Ms Pleming said. “We’ve got young people that have had real breakdowns, older people that are just feeling very isolated. They are forming friendships and now go out and play tennis together.”
Stosur said during her time playing tennis at the highest levels – where the mental game can impact the result as much as physical performance – she gained a deep appreciation for the professionals who enabled her to bounce back from challenges.
“I’ve had some struggles during my life, as everyone does,” she said. “But I suppose I’ve been … one of the lucky ones who’s been able to access sports psychologists …[and] have been able to access people that you need to be able to get over those sort of hurdles”.
Stosur said the program, which runs at tennis centres across Australia, found success by combining the social and mental health benefits of playing tennis in a group context.
At this Sunday’s event kids, families and those looking to join in will have the rare opportunity to see Stosur in action from 12pm.
“To now be able to use tennis in a completely different way to try and help people from all different areas, I think it’s just such a great way to get people out in the community,” she said.
“Tennis doesn’t have to be just about … being super competitive.
“It can literally be a great social outlet. Go down, have a hit, move, chat, socialise, work on some fitness if you want to do that.
“This Sunday is going to be about having fun, getting people out there [and] meeting new people. You never know who you might meet, strike up some sort of friendship with through a day like this.”
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