Top-seeded Serena Williams loses to Stosur in quarterfinals at Stanford

Serena Williams loses to Stosur at Stanford

STANFORD, Calif. — Australia’s Samantha Stosur has won 22 WTA doubles titles and no singles titles. At least now she can say she owns a victory over one of the greatest women’s singles players.

“It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest win of my career,” Stosur said of her 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Wimbledon champion Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Bank of the West Classic on Friday. “We don’t always play our best tennis every single day. Maybe she didn’t play her best and I played very well.”

Despite having four match points, Stosur lost her previous meeting with Williams in three sets in Sydney earlier this season. She also faced the Williams’ sisters in the doubles finals at Wimbledon.

“She had a lot of lucky shots; she’s a good framer,” said Williams, who has won 34 Tour singles titles, including 11 Grand Slam titles. “But it’s obviously all talent. She’s mastered that.”

Stosur saved nine of 10 break points on Friday and played a steady game against the top-seeded Williams, who had a nine-match winning streak snapped.

“She played well and didn’t do anything bad,” Williams said. “She went for broke and struck all her balls as hard as she could. She never lets you get into a rhythm.”

Stosur will play eighth-seeded Marion Bartoli of France, ranked 15th, who upset fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

“At the end of the day you have to go out and play well,” Stosur said. “I’d like to take it one more step. I’d love to make it to another final.”

Third-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia also advanced to the semifinals, beating Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-4.

Dementieva will play the winner of the late match between Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams.

The Bank of the West Classic and Stanford University agreed to a three-year contract earlier that will keep the longest-running women-only professional tennis tournament in the world at the Taube Family Tennis Center through 2012.