Melanie Oudin’s Cinderella Run At US Open Is Over

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Match point 3rd round Oudin beats Petrova U_S_ Open 2009

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Melanie Oudin, the American teenage tennis sensation who raised eyebrows at this year’s US Open by eliminating tennis giants like Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva, has ended her winning streak at the tournament. Oudin was beaten by Denmark’s 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2. And, while it is time for Oudin to make an exit, she is sure to go home a different person. Oudin was virtually unknown before the US Open, ranked No. 70 in the women’s world rankings. With tremendous confidence and concentration, Oudin blew past Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in round 1. But, it was when she defeated No.4-seeded Elena Dementieva in second round that she got people talking about her. The buzz intensified when Oudin outplayed former No.1 Maria Sharapova. Oudin made it into the quarter-finals by beating Nadia Petrova on Monday, becoming the youngest American to make quarter-finals of US Open since Serena Williams. Yesterday, Oudin snapped under the weight of pressure put on by Denmark’s No.9-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, but her world ranking will soar to No. 45 nonetheless.

Melanie Oudin after the match:

Caroline Wozniacki after the match:

While she is going home, Oudin made an incredible use of the tournament to make people remember her name. Endearing people with her youth, determination and lack of ostentation, Oudin is now the new people’s and media darling on the tennis court – her trademark pink and yellow runners with “Believe” written on one side bring back the long-lost naiveness and youthful maximalism to the game. Her sincere love of tennis unfazed by advertising contracts and modeling offers just yet definitely flies with people, earning her more and more fans.

Aside from the competition pressure, Oudin had to persevere through other unpleasant surprises at the tournament. First, she was evicted from her hotel because her reservation has run out. Than, the news of her parents’ nasty divorce surfaced with her dad John Oudin accusing her Melanie Oudin's mother Leslie Oudin of being unfaithful to him with Melanie’s tennis coach Brian de Villiers.

Remaining contenders:

In men's quaterfinals: Nadal plays Gonzalez, and Juan Martin Del Pontro faces Marin Cilic. The other semifinal will involve Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Women's semifinals will take place on September 11 with Yanina Wickmaye battling Oudin's upsetter Wozniacki; Kim Clijsters will face Serena Williams.