Oudin exits in U.S. Open second round

We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance

I didn't want to see Alona Bondarenko or Melanie Oudin lose today. I have a soft spot for the Bondarenko sisters, and as for Melanie, well-- it's hard not to want the best for her. But the second-round crowd--both at the Open and at home--had to say "bye" to 2009's Miss American Pie, as Bondarenko played a steadier and cleaner match, and defeated Oudin 6-2, 7-5.

Oudin's backhand has improved quite a bit lately. In this match, however, she was often shaky with her well-known forehand, either hitting it too conservatively or losing control of it altogether. It simply didn't look like the forehand we saw at this tournament in 2009. Oudin failed to serve adequately, and she made 38 unforced errors. To me, she often looked pretty anxious, which is understandable, I suppose, given all the expectations placed on her.

Bondarenko hit only three winners the entire match, which is as much a description of what happened as anything. Bondarenko, who has been konwn to get shaky, herself, will face French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the third round.