Melanie Oudin captivates tennis fans worldwide

New York, USA – Indeed, the underlying story at the 2009 US Open has been the unravelling of many a WTA Premium player (is it really surprising? I mean it is not like we haven’t seen it before this season). As far as women’s tennis goes, the 2009 season has shown that aside from Serena Williams and to some extent Venus Williams, the rest of the women’s field (in the upper echelons especially, yes Dinara I am talking about you), is in complete disarray.

But this piece is not about them and the debilitating negativity women’s tennis exudes for the most part. The real story to emerge and steal headlines is the feel good story and Cinderella run of Melanie Oudin –or to put a finer point in it – Oudin, the bane of Russian tennis.

Melanie Oudin has gone on a bit of a Russian giant-killing spree at the US Open beating Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova in succession to reach her first ever quarterfinals at a Grand Slam. In so doing, the 5’6”spark plug, only 17-years- old, has become America’s sweetheart.

Her run has captivated the imagination of tennis fans in America and across the globe. It is wholly reminiscent of Maria Sharapova’s successful run as a 17-year-old at the All England Club when she stunned everyone to win the title that many are entertaining the serious possibility Oudin might just accomplish the feat. Hmm...Oudin vs. Serena in the final – not a bad ring to it.

Yet, Oudin, 17, is not the only player to make the US Open quarters for the first time. Caroline Wozniacki, Kateryna Bondarenko and Yanina Wickmayer have also accomplished the very same breakthrough in their careers. All three reach the US Open quarters for the first time and they all have the same theoretical chance of pushing further. As do the remaining: Kim Clijsters (already through to the semis), Flavia Penneta and Serena Williams.

I suppose, Oudin’s story is all the more special because she is a 17-years-old American (local girl from Marietta, Georgia) and because she had a tougher journey to the final eight, battling some real heavyweights and persevering in thrilling fashion.

In the end, all four – Oudin, Wozniacki, Wickmayer and Bondarenko – have to be commended for they have contributed some nice stories to what would have otherwise been a disappointing US Open methinks. May the better player win!!

A little about Oudin: Last year, Oudin ranked beyond the top 200 but finished the season ranked No.177th. She started the 2009 term with a goal to break into the top 100 by season’s end. She started the year slowly with a first round exit at the Aussie Open. She continued to struggle and by April she was 1-4 in the main draw of events. Then at Charleston, she had a small breakthrough and reached the last 16 (l to Bartoli). She followed up with back-to-back title victories in the lower circuit. After which she tried to qualify for the French Open but failed at the first hurdle. Then came the Wimbledon championships and the first signs of what this young teenager might be capable of in the long run. She beat Sybille Bammer, Yaroslava Shvedova and world No.6 Jelena Jankovic before falling at the fourth round to Agnieszka Radwanska. Fast forward to the US Open, and she is in her first-ever quarters.