Samantha Stosur has admitted that she feels comfortable performing away from her native Australia.

The 28-year-old is ranked the number one Australian in the women's tennis standings and as a result a lot of expectation is placed upon her shoulders in Melbourne each year.

However, having got the defence of her US Open title off with a win earlier today, Stosur has confessed that she is happy not to be under as much pressure in New York.

"You're in the spotlight a bit more back home and you see yourself on TV and the newspapers even if you're not looking for it," she told reporters. "It's unavoidable, whereas here there are other players that are in that spotlight instead.

"The more you go through [that pressure], hopefully the better you handle it and the more you get used to it and then it doesn't affect you as much."

Stosur has also recently admitted that she is content not to be considered a favourite to emerge victorious at Flushing Meadows this time around.