Tennis icon Sam Stosur has emerged from retirement for a surprise one-off gig at the Strasbourg International on Sunday, May 15, losing to French tennis player Harmony Tan 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.

Stosur’s unexpected return to the tennis world saw an outpour of fan attention via social media, with many surprised to find Stosur’s name on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Strasbourg entry list.

“Sam Stosur joining Lleyton Hewitt on the list of Australians who just can’t give it up,” one fan wrote. “They’ve stolen the career longevity from Barty I swear.”

Stosur announced her retirement from professional tennis last year, 2021, when she revealed the 2022 Australian Open would be her last official singles appearance in the sport.

The tennis icon went on to focus on her doubles career for the remainder of the year after she lost 2-2, 6-6 to Russia’s no.1, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the 2022 Aus Open.

At the time of the announcement, Stosur took to social media to thank fans for their unfaltering support throughout her long-running successful career as she revealed her “mixed feelings” upon the difficult decision to retire.

“A huge thank you to @tennisaustralia for giving me this opportunity to finish my singles career at my home Grand Slam,” she wrote on Instagram.

“It really means a lot to me to be able to finish in front of my family, friends and Aussie fans who have stuck by me through thick and thin. I’m sure it’s going to be a mix of emotions but I wouldn’t want it any other way as I always thought I’d finish playing in Australia.”

Over the course of her incredibly successful career, the Australian tennis player has secured her place as one of the World’s most well-known tennis icons, formerly named world No.1 professional tennis player in doubles and former world No.4 in singles.

Stosur first kicked off her career in 1999 at just 15 years old, making her debut at the Australian Open the following year.