Sam Stosur is discovering fame is fleeting and so are the perks that come with being a grand slam winner, even at Flushing Meadows where she was crowned US Open champion in 2011.

The toast of the Big Apple just four years ago, Stosur has not exactly received a royal welcome back to New York as the Australian has been forced at times to ride the buses to the National Tennis Center instead of chauffeured courtesy cars.

And when the 22nd seed did make it to Flushing Meadows on Wednesday she was booted off a practise court by American darling and three-time defending champion Serena Williams.