NEW YORK // Getting set to head to a practice session, Melanie Oudin was lingering outside Arthur Ashe Stadium the other day when a trio of women approached the darling of the 2009 US Open. One told Oudin what an inspiration she is and asked if they could take a photo. Oudin obliged, posing and smiling for three of the many fans who most likely never had heard of the American teenager a year ago at this time.
She came into the 2009 US Open, her fourth career grand slam tournament, ranked 70th, then proceeded to knock off Maria Sharapova, the three-time major champion, and Elena Dementieva, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist, en route to the quarter-finals. Oudin's mid-match comebacks, gee-whiz attitude and pink-and-yellow sneakers with "BELIEVE" stamped on the heels put her in the spotlight. Her victories made her, at 17, the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Serena Williams in 1999.
The 50 weeks since then have not gone nearly as well. "It's been a tough year, because people out there are placing expectations on her," said Oudin's coach, Brian de Villiers. "People forget she's only 18. For her to just get dropped into that at this age, there's no training for this. This is all first-hand experience." The US Open begins tomorrow, and Oudin returns to the site of her breakthrough having lost four consecutive matches. She also endured a six-match losing streak at tournaments earlier this season, part of a 17-20 record.
Her 1-3 mark at the year's other grand slam tournaments includes first-round losses at the Australian Open and French Open, and a second-round exit at Wimbledon. "Look, last year was totally different," De Villiers said. "She was the new kid in town. Nobody knew her. So you're not going to get that again. But it's still fun to be here, and of course she wants to try to do as well or better. That's always the goal."
Oudin is ranked 44th this week, down from a career-best 31st in April, but far ahead of where she was not all that long ago. She was ranked 373rd at the end of 2007, and 177th at the end of 2008. She is, by about two-and-a-half months, the youngest member of the top 85 in the rankings. Plus, she is the highest-ranked American not named Williams: Serena is No 1, Venus is No 4. "I really admire her game," seven-time major champion Venus Williams said. "She really makes the most out of her body and her talent. You know that if you are [playing] against Melanie, you have to give 100 per cent on every point."
As someone who drew a lot of attention as a teen on the tennis tour, Williams was asked what advice she would offer Oudin. "I would just say, stay focused and definitely don't read the articles, and if you're on TV, turn it on mute," Williams said. * Associated Press