Thursday, September 3, 2009

Melanie Oudin--thigh injury, cool shoes and all--knocks 4th seed out of U.S. Open


If you were watching the U.S. Open and couldn't handle all the drama in the Safina-Barrois match, you were best advised to tune into the ATP, because there was even more drama going on in Arthur Ashe Stadium. 4th seed Elena Dementieva--winner of the Olympus U.S. Open Series--had all she could handle in the compact package of energy and style that is Melanie Oudin. The 17-year-old American and former junior world number 2 is said to "lack weapons." However, she has the one weapon that is hard to find on the tour these days--belief.

Like her tennis idol, Justine Henin, Oudin has that always-coiled look when she is on the court, as though she could spring onto anything at any time. Her serve, though hardly poor, could be improved, and the first half of the match, she had problems with her backhand. But her footwork, her net play, and her sneaky forehand are more than good enough. She came in on Dementieva a lot, and she frequently dictated play.

After losing the first set 5-7, Oudin served for the second set and was broken at love, but she broke right back to take the set 6-4. In the third set, Oudin went up a break right away, but then had to call for the trainer. Her thigh was re-wrapped, but she was soon unable to push off for her serve, and she had tears of pain in her eyes. She was quickly broken back, and it looked as though she might have to retire, but she received more treatment during the changeover, and came back with a better ability to hit her serve. She broke Dementieva again and once again, she had the momentum.

Dementieva saved two match points, but Oudin won the match with a successful wide-out serve. Oudin made a lot of unforced errors, some of them undoubtedly brought about by her injury, but she had the tenacity to keep going, even at her worst moments. It was a thrilling match, and featured shot-making from both players that sometimes had spectators gasping.

This is, sadly, another heartbreaking loss for Dementieva and her many fans. Widely considered a likely (many said the most likely) contender to win this year's Open, the very talented Dementieva is instead the victim of a player who--though she may be too hampered by injury to compete at her best level in Flushing Meadows--looks to have a future as bright and colorful as her shoes.

15 comments:

Lisa said...

Congratulations to Melanie, I can't believe she won.

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Term Papers said...

ITS REALLY COOL SHE HAS WON

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