Why Melanie Oudin is the New Maria Sharapova by Nadya Vlassoff
At the age of 17, American tennis phenom, Melanie
Oudin, is quickly becoming the newest "It" girl
on the WTA tour. Although Melanie only stands
at 5’ 6", Oudin has drawn comparisons to one of
the greatest female tennis players of the last
decade, Justine Henin, due to her smaller frame
but comes armed with a powerful forehand. An obvious
tennis star on the rise, one that has caught the
attention of even bigger stars, Oudin has been
working the talk show circuit with recent appearances
on the Ellen Degeneres Show and the Tonight Show
with Conan O’Brien after her impressive run at
the U.S. Open that saw the #70 ranked 17 year
old make it into the quarterfinals after upsetting
heavyweight Maria Sharapova. .
Melanie Oudin’s rise to the top can’t solely be attributed to her recent U.S. Open success. In fact, Oudin’s journey to WTA glory began when she turned pro only a year ago. After winning through the ITF, Oudin was able to rank high enough on the WTA tour to gain entry into several tournaments. But it wasn’t until the Bell Challenge in September 2008 that Melanie began to show true promise and necessary mental fortitude on the court to compete against the heavy hitters. Perhaps surprising to some, it was the first time Oudin made it into the quarterfinals of any WTA event. At Wimbledon in 2009, Melanie made waves after taking out Jelena Jankovic in the third round onhly to fall to Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round. It was the most success Oudin had ever found on a grass court, and to do it at Wimbledon was most impressive.
Although Melanie had garnered buzz and turned heads overt her Wimbledon play, the America remained quiet mainly due to the fact that the All England club was in Europe and Oudin was not the star overseas. The U.S. Open, however, was the turn in the tide Oudin needed, giving the crowd exactly what Jelena Dokic gave Australians at the Australian Open in January: hope. Although Venus and Serena Williams are still the dominant female American players on the WTA, as both sisters near the age of 30,, someone has to take their place. As it appears, Melanie Oudin is shaping up to be the next American star. Unlike other young Americans like Vania King and Varvara Lepchenko who are among the only other three American women ranked in the Top 100 along with Jill Craybas, Oudin could very well live up to her own potential.
After reaching the quarterfinal round at the 2009 U.S. Open, Melanie Oudin was knocked out by Caroline Wozniacki who went on to the final for her first time in her young career. But why did Oudin lose? Well, for a number of reasons. The reality of the situation, obviously, was that all of Oudin’s opponents weren’t strong enough to beat her, seeding aside. Maria Sharapova served 21 double faults in her third round match against Oudin, which is almost equivalent to an entire 6-game set plus three more points. All that Melanie Oudin had to do was be patient and wait for Sharapova to continue her downward spiral into the hard court at Flushing Meadows.
Against Nadia Petrova, Oudin was up against a notorious, inconsistent player with mental on-court challenges. Once again, Melanie just needed to be patient and pounce once the unforced errors began. And, oh, did they ever come. Petrova was dominant in the first set losing only one game but was unable to keep hold of the match after becoming frustrated by Oudin’s impressive defence. If anything, Oudin looked like she had picked up a few pointers from the master of defence play herself, Jelena Jankovic.
Then came Caroline Wozniacki, the young Dane and player with the most wins this year. And win she did. Wozniacki didn’t give Oudin an opportunity to strike as she spread the court and played strong off the baseline. Most important, Caroline kept her focus. Clearly Oudin wasn’t used to playing a counter pusher, someone who could handle the match as patiently as Melanie could, and a player who would wait for Oudin to make the mistakes. It took Wozniacki two sets to dismantle Oudin but the crowd gave the American a standing ovation for her impressive U.S. Open run. When Wozniacki spoke during her on-court interview after the victory, Caroline almost apologized to the crowd, something that she shouldn’t have done simply because SHE was the winner.
Although
there’s been plenty of praise for the young
American, there are still many differences between
Maria Sharapova and Melanie Oudin. Sharapova
was 17 when she won the title at Wimbledon where
she defeated Serena Williams in straight sets.
Oudin is one week shy of her 18th birthday and
has yet to advance past the quarterfinal round
of a WTA tournament. Sharapova was ranked #1
by the time she was 18. Melanie Oudin could
still potentially reach that feat if she continues
to play well and has another four grand slam
tournaments along with twenty premier events
to get through in the next year if she hopes
to get the #1 ranking before turning 19. After
her win at Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova was immediately
catapulted into the limelight, signing multi-million
dollar endorsement deals with Nike, Prince,
and Gatorade. Those endorsements have only expanded
since and Sharapova has added to the seemingly
endless list of corporate sponsors, from Tag
Heur to Range Rover. Although both tennis stars
blonde beauties, the 7 inch height difference
is what sets them apart. The height makes Oudin’s
success more impressive since she not only has
the ability to return a serve from much taller
players but also hit 100+ mph serves herself.
Once the dust truly settles on memories of the U.S. Open, which brought back plenty of tearful recollections for Kim Clijsters, Melanie Oudin will still be the fresh face of tennis that America needs. In her recent interview with Conan O’Brien, the talk show host joked about her penchant for three set victories. Oudin, giggled like the teenager that she is, "I don’t mean to lose the first set in my matches... I got the nerves out in the first set and started playing better in the second and third sets." It is not the strategy most coaches would encourage. But for a smart player like Oudin, even losing the first set allows her to learn her opponent’s game, especially if it’s player Melanie has never faced. So where does her recent success come from? "I can use a lot of my variety and my speed", Oudin continued. Those two attributes along with patience will take Melanie Oudin far if she can remain focused and injury free.
Melanie Oudin is set to take the sponsorship world by storm after signing a sponsorship deal with BackOffice Associates and most recently AirTran Airways for radio ads and billboards. With her Adidas and Wilson contracts set to expire soon, Melanie Oudin could garner a much bigger pay check the second time around if her BEST agents play their cards right. Oudin won’t land the $25 million sponsorship deal that Sharapova got when she re-upped with Prince, but if Melanie continues her on-court success the big tennis bucks will be served up soon.
Ever heard of players who are late bloomers? So what sharapova achieved most of her career early. It may be over for her. Don't write off melanie or any young US prospect just because they aren't winning as a teen. They might start winning later in adulthood like venus, Lindsay and Jenifer Capriatti. Mel is just 17th and has put forth some very solid to great result at the slams. Her teams needs to get her fit and mentally tough enough to handle the fame game. She is on her way. This young woman has star all over her. Love the fighting spiirit on court! Don't let anyone take that away win or loose! mel's a great girl. I'm pulling for glatch King & Vanderwehge too. Hope Haynes can salvage something as her career is winding down. This was a great player who never got any support when it counted from the usta Shame. Is she the daughter of Mike Haynes the ex Oakland raider? I heard this is it true.
janie
October 05, 2009 - 19:16
Subject:
It is a disservice to compare Oudin to Dokic's run in Australia. Truth is Aussie tennis has no female champions no hope. Venus & Serena may be getting older but they are still winning majors and are big threats. American women's tennis is still healthy. Plus Dokic career is over. It never began. I'm hopin young Oudin can't carry on in the great tradition set by U.S ladies which also includes the Wiliams sisters, Seles, Evert, King, Austin, Capriati, Davenport, Navratilova, etc. America always produces some women's champs every decade. No need to put down Vania King and co. They future has big possibilities. Oudin gave us a glipmse. Of course Venus & Serena have a few more majors in them. But within the next decade they'll probably be gone. It's good to see signs of life in the upcoming ranks. Tennis needs some American girls as champions. It could really help the sport. Woz whatever her name was a huge disappointment in the final. I wanted an all american final. Serena vs Melanie would have been so much better for the game than the return of the boring Belgians. Kim & Justine were headliners who presided over the worst droughts of global popularity in the history of women's tennis. I'm just saying. These are the very "so-called stars responsible for driving away fans failing to capture interest. Their returns aren't going to change a thing for the better. Sorry but its true. Women's tennis needs a stable of American women as champions out there holding it down. Just saying.
janie
September 25, 2009 - 16:26
Subject: oudin
I find Oudin greater for the game of tennis than Sharapova. We Americans need younger players to break through not fake foriegners trying to be Americans. Melanie Oudin was a breath of fresh air! Loved her! Hope her team gets her fitness ready. She didn't bring her A game against Woznniacki unfortunately. I love her fiery attitude. This young lady gave tennis a shot of energy. Oudin broght me to the TV after she lost I didn't watch. I'm sick of OLD players like Clijsters. Go young Americans! It's Time! woo hoo! Besides the Williams sisters can't do it all by themselves they need help! Women's tennis NEEDS young American women winning as champions. Lindsey, Monica and Jenifer have left huges gaps in the sport to be filled now asap. Good luck in 2010 Oudin and the young Americans. Rock on Venus & Serena hold the fort help is on the way!
DorkyBird
September 24, 2009 - 19:16
Subject: Gimme a break
What, just cuz she's American she can't be any good? Let's see who has to eat whose words.
kooda
September 24, 2009 - 00:04
Subject:
The next Sharapova? Please, get a reality check. Sharapova just returned from a surgery after almost a year off. In your article, you mentioned all of Sharapova amazing achievements at the young age. With you mentioning the could-be's and the might-be's of Oudin doesn't really help with your argument. Have you not seen the outcomes of many past "rising stars"? Anna Kournikova? Ana Ivanovic? How fast have they crashed? I'd find it completely natural and unsurprising if that recent run of hers end up being her best one ever.
spurs
September 23, 2009 - 21:28
Subject:
The next Maria Sharapova? Um no. The comparison ends at they are both young. As your article pointed out, Sharapova's accomplishments were greater at 17, and probably will be by the time Oudin is 20. Also, their games are totally different. Next Maria- I don't think so. She had a nice run on home soil, but I won't be surprised if I don't hear her name for another 3 years.
notable
September 23, 2009 - 17:34
Subject:
umm oudin beat a sharapova that game 5+ games away in double faults...and almost lost the match.. and if melanie is the new sharapova why doesnt she have a grand slam title?? oudin is not sharapove statyre not now not never...she just got a surgey-shooken one
At the age of 17, American tennis phenom, Melanie
Oudin, is quickly becoming the newest "It" girl
on the WTA tour. Although Melanie only stands
at 5’ 6", Oudin has drawn comparisons to one of
the greatest female tennis players of the last
decade, Justine Henin, due to her smaller frame
but comes armed with a powerful forehand. An obvious
tennis star on the rise, one that has caught the
attention of even bigger stars, Oudin has been
working the talk show circuit with recent appearances
on the Ellen Degeneres Show and the Tonight Show
with Conan O’Brien after her impressive run at
the U.S. Open that saw the #70 ranked 17 year
old make it into the quarterfinals after upsetting
heavyweight Maria Sharapova. .
Although
there’s been plenty of praise for the young
American, there are still many differences between
Maria Sharapova and Melanie Oudin. Sharapova
was 17 when she won the title at Wimbledon where
she defeated Serena Williams in straight sets.
Oudin is one week shy of her 18th birthday and
has yet to advance past the quarterfinal round
of a WTA tournament. Sharapova was ranked #1
by the time she was 18. Melanie Oudin could
still potentially reach that feat if she continues
to play well and has another four grand slam
tournaments along with twenty premier events
to get through in the next year if she hopes
to get the #1 ranking before turning 19. After
her win at Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova was immediately
catapulted into the limelight, signing multi-million
dollar endorsement deals with Nike, Prince,
and Gatorade. Those endorsements have only expanded
since and Sharapova has added to the seemingly
endless list of corporate sponsors, from Tag
Heur to Range Rover. Although both tennis stars
blonde beauties, the 7 inch height difference
is what sets them apart. The height makes Oudin’s
success more impressive since she not only has
the ability to return a serve from much taller
players but also hit 100+ mph serves herself.