A Letter to Melanie Oudin

Dear Mel, Don’t worry.  Remember that after he concocted the theory of relativity, whiz Albert Einstein faltered big time. Remember that when Michael Jordan briefly switched from hoops to baseball, he was a dud with the Birmingham Barons. And we know that the golfer dude, Tiger what’s his name — didn’t even win a major [...]

Cinderella Run Ends for Oudin

Wozniacki Moves On to USO Semis, Matchup with Wickmayer

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — It was too much to ask.  Three straight wins over skyscraping Russians in which she had to dig herself out from under one-set deficits.  The sudden fame (and all the life-in-a-fishbowl media attention that comes with it). The pressure of playing her first night match at Ashe Stadium.  All the expectations.  [...]

SI Reports Oudin’s Parents Are Divorcing

Sports Ilustrated reports that John and Leslie Oudin are divorcing and alleges Leslie’s affair with Melanie’s coach. More »

Ou Can Do It

A Q&A With Melanie Oudin’s Coach – Brian De Villiers

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Inside Tennis sat down with Melanie Oudin’s coach, Brian De Villiers, just moments before the 17-year-old Georgian’s quarterfinal matchup with Caroline Wozniacki.

Do You Believe?

This time it won’t happen. You can draw on that ol’ the magic just so many times. Lightning just isn’t inclined to strike in the same spot twice (especially if it’s in the world’s biggest tennis palace).  The darling of our late summer daze is at last down and on the brink. Melanie Oudin — once [...]

I’m a Believer

Giant Killer Melanie Oudin Shares Her Thoughts On Reaching the USO Quarters and How She’s Handling Her Sudden Fame

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Melanie Oudin spoke to the press corps following her 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 triumph over Nadia Petrova – her third straight win over a Russian in which she fought back from a one-set deficit.

‘It’s All Surreal’

Inside Tennis Talks With Leslie Oudin

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — IT caught up with Melanie Oudin’s mother, Leslie, just moments after her 17-year-old daughter dispatched Russian Nadia Petrova 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 to advance to her first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

American Sweetheart Oudin, En Route to Oz, Scores Biggest Breakout Win in Years

The little kid blasts yet another clean forehand winner to break her mighty foe to go up 4-3 in the decisive third set. Twenty-thousand-plus New Yorkers rise, daring to imagine that, at last, a great new face is emerging. And this wannabe is no eponymous 6-foot-1 “ova.” You know the type. The pleasant-enough super-girl from [...]

A New-Look No. 3

It's Serena, Venus and...

Quick, name the No. 3-ranked American woman.  Nope, it’s not mommy-of-two Lindsay Davenport.  Or the recently married Bethanie Mattek-Sands.  Or even veteran Jill Craybas.  It’s none other than Georgian Melanie Oudin, who, just weeks away from her 18th birthday, completes the USA’s Tennis Troika with Serena and Venus Williams.

East Bay – August 2009

• USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships Preview
• Stead Open Preview: Defending Titlist Sanchez a Trojan Warhorse
• ClubSport Fremont Shones at Sectionals
• Something to Crow About: Weston Claims Bay Counties Title