US Open Women’s Semis Picks

2- Serena Williams v. Kim Clijsters

Clijsters, the 2005 US Open champion, has played three-time US Open titlist Williams tough in the past, but she owns a 1-7 record against the American, taking her sole victory over Serena in the 2002 WTA Championships final, and that was the day after Serena took a marathon victory over Jennifer Capriati and was a [...]

Losing Her Mother, She Found Tennis

Belgian Wickmayer Heads Into First Grand Slam Semi

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — It was her mother’s illness that brought Yanina Wickmayer to the sport.  It was an escape.  Something to take her mind off her mother’s two-year-long bout with cancer.

Now’s Not the Time to Talk About Sad Things

Oudin's Eviction...Rafa's Kissing Bandit...Quotebook

NO ROOM AT THE INN: Roger Federer is safely ensconced in his two bedroom, $3,050-a-night suite at the very upscale Carlyle hotel on Madison Ave. Jesse Witten, early in his run at the Open, crowded his college buddies into his Waldorf Astoria room. But when first-time Slam quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin‘s reservations expired at the Marriott Marquis, [...]

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.

When Your Wicked Mis-hits Are Finding Angles

Davis Cup…NY's Love-Hate Relationship...Quotebook

DAVIS CUP TEAMS NAMED: The ITF has announced team nominations for the ’09 Davis Cup World Group Semis, to be played Sept. 18-20. Croatia vs. Czech Republic Croatia: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Roko Karanusic, Lovro Zovko Czech Republic: Radek Stepanek, Tomas Berdych, Jan Hernych, Lukas Dlouhy Spain vs. Israel Spain: Rafael Nadal, Tommy Robredo, David [...]

Looking Ahead: Cilic vs. Del Potro

Breakthrough Win Sends Cilic to First Slam Quarterfinal

FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Far from the emerald-green lawns of the All England Club, and the shouldering-a-nation pressures that come with being the British No. 1, Andy Murray has historically played his best tennis on this side of The Pond. He won his first Challenger title in the little seaside enclave of Aptos, Calif., back [...]

Italians Are Everywhere!!!

McEnroe vs. Djokovic…Garvin on Oudin…Quotebook

THAT’S THE NOVAK WE KNOW AND LOVE: What a difference a year makes.  In ’08, he was jeered by the New York crowd after taking down Andy Roddick.  But on Monday night, Novak Djokovic was back in favor when he engaged in an impromptu midnight hit with John McEnroe in Ashe Stadium, which brought back [...]