Gold Coast, 19 September 2011 | Rob O'Gorman

A huge crowd today welcomed Sam Stosur back home to the Gold Coast as she was awarded the keys to the city following her US Open triumph.

Arriving in an off-white 1965 Cadillac, Stosur was swamped by fans offering their congratulations for her breakthrough win.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and Gold Coast City Mayor Ron Clarke were on hand to welcome Stosur along with world champion hurdler Sally Pearson.

Bligh also revealed to the crowd Stosur would begin her 2012 season at January’s Brisbane International.

Stosur was delighted and overwhelmed by the turnout at Broadwater Parklands, spending an hour on-stage, signing autographs, posing for photos and completing media interviews.

With her parents Tony & Dianne and brother Daniel amongst the crowd, Stosur said it was a huge thrill to be honoured in her hometown and was already eyeing off further success.

“Once you achieve something like this you want to be able to do it repeatedly and, having done it once, that self belief and knowing it is possible to do it is there,” Stosur said.

“I know I will have the rest of Australia behind me which is good.”

Stosur will spend two more days on the Gold Coast before departing for Tokyo on Wednesday.