Melanie Oudin displays true grit overwhelming Elena DementievaFans who came out Arthur Ashe Stadium this afternoon were treated to a rare display of tenacity, grit, determination and fearlessness in the form of 17-year-old Melanie Oudin this afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The teen was unseeded, fighting through a left thigh injury and facing the number 4-ranked player in the world, Elena Dementieva.
Oudin played a tough enough first set, but ultimately lost it 7-5. Most teenagers on such a grand stage would have been content with their effort, but not Melanie. She buckled down and put the pressure on Dementieva. Her court coverage was spectacular and the tiny teen from Georgia was fearless – going for shot after shot.
The crowd was buzzing when Oudin stole the second set 6-4 and the third began with such promise. But then trouble struck. Melanie tweaked her left thigh, which was already taped up and had to take a lengthy injury timeout. She retook the court with a heavily rewrapped thigh and the sinking hopes of the crowd.
The match continued with the drama and pressure building – when Oudin yelped after hitting a serve. The color drained from her face and the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Oudin took a few tentative steps and looked ready to call it quits. She thought it over, kept testing her thigh and decided she had come too far.
Her service speed decreased greatly along with her mobility and the Georgia teen seemed destined to lose. But then a funny thing happened. Dementieva drew Oudin into the net and tried to lob over her 5’6 frame. No dice! The 70th ranked player in the world leapt into the air and put away the overhead.
Suddenly she was recharged, pushing the pain aside and going for broke on shot after shot. The number 4 player in the world wilted under the barrage of shot-making and eventually succumbed to Oudin by a final score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
If Melanie Oudin is what the future holds for women’s tennis in the United States, we are truly in good hands.
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