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tennis Melanie Oudin
usinfo | 2013-08-04 18:17
 Melanie Oudin at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the first round of the US Open 2010 |
|
| Country | United States |
| Residence | Marietta, Georgia, United States |
| Born |
September 23, 1991(age 21) Marietta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 130 lb (59 kg) |
| Turned pro | 2008 |
| Plays | Right-handed (Two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | US$1,227,874 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 169–137 |
| Career titles | 1 WTA, 4 ITF titles |
| Highest ranking | No. 31 (April 19, 2010) |
| Current ranking | No. 78 (May 27, 2013) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2009, 2010, 2011,2013) |
| French Open | 2R (2012, 2013) |
| Wimbledon | 4R (2009) |
| US Open | QF (2009) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 44–61 |
| Highest ranking | No. 125 (May 23, 2011) |
| Current ranking | No. 690 (May 27, 2013) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Australian Open | 1R (2010) |
| French Open | 2R (2010) |
| Wimbledon | 1R (2010) |
| US Open | 2R (2010), 1R (2012) |
| Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results | |
| US Open | W (2011) |
Melanie Oudin (born September 23, 1991 in Marietta, Georgia, United States) is an American tennis player and former world junior no. 2. Her current ranking is world no. 78, as of May 27, 2013. She won the mixed doubles title at the US Open in 2011 with fellow American Jack Sock.
Oudin first came to prominence as a 17-year-old at the 2009 US Open, where she reached the quarter-finals. She reached a career high ranking of World No. 31 on April 19, 2010.
Personal life
Oudin is of French descent and has a twin sister, Katherine, and a younger sister, Christina.[1] She was home schooled from seventh grade on so that she could have more time for tennis practice, but admits envying her twin sister's experiences at a regular school.[2] She says her idol is Justine Henin because "she proved you don't have to be tall to win things."[3] Her grandmother inspired her and her sister to play tennis when she gave them racquets and lessons when they were young.[4]
Playing style
Oudin is a defensive counterpuncher. She uses her speed and footwork to get balls back from the other side of the court. Her best shot is her forehand. Her slice backhand is defensive but accurate. Dropshots and clean volleys are useful assets in her game, as well.
Tennis career
2008–2009
Oudin turned professional in February 2008.[5] In April 2008, she received a wildcard at the WTA tournament in Miami where she lost in the first round to Tathiana Garbin in three sets.[6] In August, Oudin received a wildcard into her first Grand Slam main draw at the US Open.She was defeated by Australian Jessica Moore 6–7, 6–7.
In October that year, Oudin participated in the 2008 Bell Challenge in Quebec City. In the first round, she defeated third seed Sybille Bammer, 6–4, 3–6, 7–5. In the second round, she defeated Russian Olga Puchkova, 6–1, 7–6. Reaching her first WTA quarterfinals, she was defeated by sixth seed Bethanie Mattek, 6–7, 1–6.
Oudin began 2009 by qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open. She was then defeated in the first round by Akgul Amanmuradova, 1–6, 4–6.
At the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, Oudin entered as a qualifier. Oudin defeated no. 29 Sybille Bammer in three sets in the first round and Yaroslava Shvedova in three sets in the second. In the third round, Oudin defeated world no. 6 Jelena Janković, 6–7, 7–5, 6–2. She lost to Agnieszka Radwańska in the fourth round, 4–6, 5–7.
At the 2009 US Open, Oudin entered as a wildcard. In her first-round match, she easily defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6–1, 6–2. In the second round, she stunned fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, in her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut. Then in the third round, she defeated a resurgent Maria Sharapova, 3–6, 6–4, 7–5. At 17 years of age, Oudin reached the fourth round of a major event for the second consecutive time. In the fourth round, she played another Russian, 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova. She defeated Petrova, 1–6, 7–6, 6–3, to reach the quarterfinals of the event. She became the youngest woman since Serena Williams in 1999 to reach the quarter-finals at the US Open, and the youngest since Maria Sharapova to reach the quarter-finals at a Major. Her Cinderella story ended when ninth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki defeated her, 2–6, 2–6. A standing ovation occurred when Oudin was leaving the court. After the US Open, Oudin's ranking rose into the top 50. This was Oudin's first top-50 appearance on the tour.
2010
At the 2010 Australian Open, Oudin was defeated, 6–2, 5–7, 5–7, by Alla Kudryavtseva in the first round.
After rallying from a set and 1–3 down, Oudin defeated Ágnes Szávay to reach her first semifinal of a WTA tour event at the 2010 Open GDF Suez in Paris. She then fell in three sets to world no. 7Elena Dementieva, in a rematch of the US Open second round. At the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, Oudin was the second seed. She lost in the quarterfinals to Sofia Arvidsson. At the 2010 French Open, Oudin made an early exit by losing 2–6, 5–7 to Anabel Medina Garrigues in the first round. At Wimbledon, Oudin reached the second round, before losing to Jarmila Groth. Oudin reached the second round at the US Open, before losing to Alona Bondarenko, 2–6, 5–7.
2011
In January, she obtained an invitation to play the Hong Kong Tennis Classic with compatriots Venus Williams and John McEnroe. In the first round of the Australian Open, she lost to Czech Klára Zakopalová in three sets.
Oudin got her first win of the year at the 2011 Open GDF Suez, where she beat Vera Dushevina, 7–5, 5–7, 6–2. In the second round, Oudin lost to Dominika Cibulková of Slovakia, 4–6, 6–7. Having semifinal points to defend, Oudin's ranking dropped from no. 61 to no. 72. Oudin's next tournament was the Cellular South Cup in Memphis. She won her first-round match against Anastasia Pivovarova of Russia, 6–4, 6–0. In the second round, she faced Russian Evgeniya Rodina, only to lose 6–1, 7–5. Oudin was unable to defend her quarterfinal points and therefore saw her ranking fall from no. 72 to no. 81.
In the US Open paired with Jack Sock, Melanie captured the mixed doubles title, defeating the eighth-seeded Argentine pairing of Gisela Dulko and Eduardo Schwank, 7–6 (4), 4–6, 10–8.
2012
At the beginning of the season, Oudin lost in the first round of the Australian Open qualifying to Laura Robson.[7] In April, Oudin won the ITF 50k Boyd Tinsley Women's Clay Court Classic.[8] Oudin also qualified for the Family Circle Cup losing in the first round to Anabel Medina Garrigues. Oudin was also awarded the USTA French Open Wild Card, with her performances in the USTA Pro Circuit.[9] At the French Open, Oudin drew Johanna Larsson of Sweden in the first round. She won 6–3, 6–3. It was her first win ever at the French Open.[10] In the 2nd round, she lost to eventual finalist Sara Errani of Italy 2–6, 3–6.[11]
In June, Oudin won her first WTA title at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham. She qualified and then defeated tenth seed Sorana Cîrstea in the first round. She then beat both Michelle Larcher De Brito and Elena Vesnina to reach the quarter-finals. The tournament was filled with rain delays and Oudin had to cope with the difficulty of coming off and on the court while she beat Irina Falconi and Ekaterina Makarova to reach her first ever final on the WTA tour. She then defeated Jelena Janković 6–4 6–2 in the final. Winning the tournament bumped up her ranking from 208 to 122. Her performance earned her a wildcard at Wimbledon.[12]
At Wimbledon, she was given one of seven wildcard entries into the main draw. In the first round she lost to unseeded Tímea Babos of Hungary in three sets 4–6, 6–4, 3–6.[13]
At the US Open on August 27, the number 107 ranked Oudin was unseeded and lost to fifteenth seed Lucie Šafářová of the Czech Republic in straight sets 4–6, 0–6.[14] She also entered the Women's Doubles with Grace Min.
With the 2012 season coming to a close, Melanie started her usual year-ending ITF tour. Her first of 3 final tournaments began in Saguenay, Canada. At the National Bank Challenger Saguenay 50k, Melanie advanced to the semi-finals before losing to Eugenie Bouchard 2–6,2–6. She then moved on to New Braunfels, Texas, USA. At the John Newcombe Women's Pro Challenge 50k, she drew wildcard Victoria Duval in the first round. Melanie seemed to be unstoppable as she gained confidence with each win. With wins over Ulrikke Eikeri and Madison Keys, she made it to the final. In the final, Melanie defeated Mariana Duque 6–1,6–1. On the way to the win, Melanie didn't drop a set and this win became her 2 ITF and 3rd overall this year. The win gives her 5 total ITF wins and 6 overall wins.[15]
2013
Oudin played in the 2013 Australian Open where she lost in the first round to Laura Robson, 6–2, 6–3. She later played in the 2013 French Open, winning her first round match over TamiraPaszek 6-4, 6-3.
Fed Cup
Oudin played singles in the United States' Fed Cup tie against Argentina in February 2009, losing her first match against Gisela Dulko, but winning the second match against Betina Jozami in three sets.[16]
In November 2009, Oudin lost both of her matches (against Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone) in the championship round of the 2009 Fed Cup.[17]
In the 2010 Fed Cup, Oudin led the USA to a 4–1 victory over France by defeating Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin. Against Russia, Oudin then defeated Alla Kudryavtseva in her first singles match, while losing to Elena Dementieva in her second match. Her team still advanced to the final in San Diego. Contrary to expectations, lower ranked Coco Vandeweghe was chosen over Oudin for the first singles match against Francesca Schiavone. After the US team lost both matches on the first day, Oudin replaced Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the third singles match against Schiavone and won, 6–3, 6–1. This kept her team in contention, but proved futile since Vandeweghe lost the next match against Flavia Pennetta. In the2011 Fed Cup World Group tie against Belgium, Oudin lost both her singles matches against Kim Clijsters and Yanina Wickmayer. In April, she also lost her two matches in the 2011 Fed Cup World Group Play-offs, where the US dropped out of the World Group for the first time since its formation in 1995.
