She's just as hungry and determined to repeat her performance of last year even though her ability to enter the main draw of any tournament has impeded her efforts to play a lot of matches.
The Difference a Year Makes in Women's Tennis
"It's been completely different," Oudin said Thursday, July 29, 2010 after losing her second round match of the Bank of the West Classic to Victoria Azarenka, 6-3, 6-1, at Stanford University's Taube Tennis Center.
"When I got to New York last year no one knew who I was," she added. "Now, no matter where I go, a lot of people know who I am."
Oudin established her reputation at last year's U.S. Open when she made a surprising run through the Grand Slam event, reaching the quarterfinals of the event. She lost to then No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki but defeated No. 4 Elena Dementieva, former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and then No. 13 Nadia Petrova, all in three sets, along the way.
"I know that wasn't a fluke," Oudin said. "I know I can do that again. I just don't want to put too much pressure on myself and think about it. From one tournament I went from needing to qualify to going straight to the main draw. It's very difficult."
Qualifying Tournament to Main Draw Means Fewer Matches
Oudin thinks she gets better the more matches she plays. She showed that early on last year, qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open, and then playing nearly every week.
She also needed to qualify in Charleston and then reached the Round of 16. She served notice at Wimbledon that she was a player to be watched, winning three matches to qualify for the main draw and then winning three more, including a three-set win over then No. 6 Jelena Jankovic, to reach the Round of 16.
She also qualified at last year's Bank of the West Classic, Los Angeles, and Cincinnati in consecutive weeksleading up to the U.S. Open.
"Sure I had a good U.S. Open but expectations went from zero to 100 from one tournament," Oudin said. "It's been kind of annoying, like someone yelled out the other night, 'pull it together Melanie.' I was like, 'Really?' I know they mean well but 'Come on Melanie' is enough. You don't have to say 'get it together.' I mean, come on, I'm trying. You come down here and play. Someone yelled 'pick up your energy,' and she really said that."
Gaining Experience on the Big Stage
Oudin is not really angry that she gets so much attention. In fact, she appreciates the support. She's just young enough to speak her mind and, sometimes, it just seems to come out a little differently.
She's come a long way since last year's Bank of the West Classic, when she thought it was nice of Sharapova just to say 'hi' to her. Now she's the one who leaves an impression on people.
"I think I have improved a lot, even from Wimbledon," she said. "I did a lot of hitting, a lot of fitness to get ready for to play a lot of matches and get geared up for the U.S. Open. This is where I want to play. I want to play against the best players. Sure, the first year on the tour is the nicest because there's no pressure and no one knows who you are."
It's also nice to win, as Oudin is beginning to discover.
Match of the Tournament
Oudin fought back from a 5-1 deficit in the second set to force a third set against Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak and win the match, 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-3, in the first round.
"I thought I was playing well the whole match," Oudin said. "I think when it got close she got a little tight and made a couple of mistakes. When I got down I had nothing to lose and I relaxed. When it got to 5-4 I thought 'I just won three in a row. I can win another one.' When it got to the third set it was anybody's game."
Wozniak won the Bank of the West Classic in 2008.
Rick Eymer - I have written for The San Mateo Times, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and am currently working part-time as an assistant sports editor at ...
Join the Conversation