NEW YORK: It wasn't bad enough that Samantha Stosur was told to take a bus to the US Open, but then she had to give up her practice court to Serena Williams.
The 2011 champion has endured that sort of week at Flushing Meadows but she had some choice words for organizers Thursday about the Grand Slam slaps in the face she has suffered.
"It's a Grand Slam. It's one of the biggest tournaments in the world. You got to be able to provide transport to players when they need it," Stosur said. "It's not just me. There have been many players in that situation."
The 31-year-old Australian shook off the annoyances of practice scheduling and transportation to rout Russia's 94th-ranked Evgeniya Rodina 6-1, 6-1 and book a third-round date with Italian 16th seed Sara Errani.
Stosur defeated Williams in the 2011 final, the last loss the world number one has suffered at the US Open as she goes for the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and her 22nd career Slam singles title to match Graf's Open Era record.
But when Williams wanted to hustle out to practice courts after serving poorly in her second-round victory Wednesday, Stosur was forced to switch her practice location.
"She kicked me off my practice court yesterday," Stosur said. "A few issues, but it's all right.
"I had 45 minutes (booked) yesterday. I went on three different courts, so not ideal."
Stosur has some sympathy given limited practice space.
"There is only so much you can do with so much space and so many courts," she said. "There are obviously 200-something players here all wanting to practice and doing everything they need to to prepare. You can only do what you can do. But, yeah, it would be nice to have 45 minutes without interruption."
It would have been nice to have a car as well, as every main draw player is supposed to have, when Stosur wanted to book a Thursday morning practice.
Instead, Stosur was told she would need to take a shuttle bus, putting her alongside the media, staff and other workers trying to get to the most traffic congested Slam event.
That had the Aussie more than a trifle upset at the headaches the US Open can heap upon players not named Williams.
"Didn't help or hinder me in any way, shape or form going out to play," Stosur said.
"But when you are still in the tournament, you try and book a car they say you can't have one before 10 because you don't have a match, I don't think it's good enough."
Asked if she thought Williams had a car from the start, Stosur replied, "I'd say so."
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