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Busted Racquet

Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

Game Point: Oudin's amazing run continues, pink shoes and all

By Chris Chase

Game Point is Busted Racquet's daily roundup of five facts, figures or links about the 2009 U.S. Open.  

Melanie Oudin continued her remarkable run at the 2009 U.S. Open with another come-from-behind, upset victory today over No. 13 seed Nadia Petrova. After dropping the first set 6-1, Oudin stormed back to win a second set tiebreak and then ran away with the deciding set, 6-3.

With the win, the unseeded 17-year old in the pink shoes advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal and fully cements her status as America's next tennis princess.

Love -- Cinderella never wore shoes like this. The pink and yellow color scheme for the customized adidas sneakers was selected by Oudin herself. (Apparently one doesn't need an eye for fashion to be great at tennis.) Before the Open, adidas said Oudin's shoes wouldn't be available to the public. Given the attention Oudin is drawing, the company might want to rethink that decision.

15 -- Instead of putting her name on the heel of the shoe (as was originally designed), Oudin asked to have the word "BELIEVE" instead. She said her boyfriend (who is 15 years old -- yeah, you read that right) came up with the idea. In addition to providing the inspiration for the shoe, Oudin's beau was her hitting partner Thursday morning during the teen's first trip to Arthur Ashe Stadium.

30 -- Ever subtle, the PA guys at Arthur Ashe Stadium played Cher's 1999 hit 'Believe' after Oudin's win today.

40 -- Martin Rogers writes today that Oudin has long desired to have a "normal" life, but that she's now finding out that such normalcy may be overrated. For more about Oudin, read the post we wrote about her in June. 

Love -- Oudin will play the winner of tonight's No. 9 Caroline Wozniacki v. No. 6 Svetlana Kuznetsova match. Seeing as how Oudin has defeated a Russian in each round of the Open thus far (Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Petrova), she should be pulling for Kuznetsova. The starting time of the match won't be released until tomorrow, but given Oudin's sudden rock star status, expect her quarterfinal to be in primetime.

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548 Comments

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  1. Vegas
    1. Posted by Vegas Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    The next Tracy Austin.
  2. urbanlegendsrg
    2. Posted by urbanlegendsrg Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    What can you do, its the power of the media...
  3. Gillette
    3. Posted by Gillette Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Yeah, the first poster is an clueless idiot. I don't remember any young player that made it to the quarter finals of a slam at seventeen.....and then did nothing. They are also clueless for not noticing her courage and the big forehand... both of which won Justine Henin a lot of matches. She is only seventeen. She will improve just as Serena did, and Justine, and Maria as well. She isn't all that she can be, because she is still growing into her game and has little experience. But look at what she has been able to do already. Melanie Oudin needs to improve her serve, as Justine did, and gain some experience. Once she has done that, she will be a top twenty player for sure, and quite possibly, top ten.
  4. Portillo67
    4. Posted by Portillo67 Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    I think what Oudin is doing is great for tennis, showing that a young, inexperienced and unseeded player can do in a big tournament. That is always refreshing. The hype of the media is understandable, after all, this is the US Open, so what is more natural that route for the home girl? I think that time will help to put things in perspective; maybe Oudin is destined for great achievements or maybe she is just another good player in a Cinderella roll, but I think that she is definitely here to stay. She is a great fighter, no doubt, and has some variety and weapons in her game. What impresses me the most is her mental strength; it´s not easy coming from behind, and doing it against players as Sharapova and Dementieva, whose will to win is tested; that is really remarkable.
  5. CookyMonzta
    5. Posted by CookyMonzta Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Vegas (#3): Tracy Austin? I seriously doubt that you want her to be the next Tracy Austin (unless I'm wrong). Tracy won 2 U.S. Opens, including an epic match in 1981 against Martina N., who just became a U.S. citizen that year. The next year, Tracy suffered a major injury and was never the same. She retired soon thereafter.
  6. Coach Isiah Thompson
    6. Posted by Coach Isiah Thompson Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:30 pm EDT

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    You can't be serious, man. You CANNOT be serious!!! That ball was on the line. Chalk flew up. It was clearly in. Everyone in the stadium saw that but you. How many other calls are you going to miss? Answer my question......the question, JERK!
  7. moh_prosepoetry
    7. Posted by moh_prosepoetry Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    i want kuznetsova to win the match against Wozniacki so that Oudin's slaying of the RUSSIANS continues....hahaha...love to see her reach the final and face serena...
  8. Chris C
    8. Posted by Chris C Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    I was going to write a blistering response to the inane comment left by "*", but it looks like everyone else beat me to it. Well done.
  9. Chris C
    9. Posted by Chris C Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    I was going to write a blistering response to the inane comment left by "*", but it looks like everyone else beat me to it. Well done.
  10. pete'sbest14
    10. Posted by pete'sbest14 Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    #1 * I don't think you are a moron, I do however think you are terribly cynical and jaded. I think perhaps you would steal all the candy from children's stockings at Christmas. Just your comment about "this blond, white American teenager" tells most of us how sad you are to write such a pathetic comment. When the Williams sisters took the tennis world by storm did you also pray that those brunette, black American teenagers would also lose??? I give your comment no credibility, yet I respond because I sincerely think you need something wonderful and hopeful in your life, in the meantime, please do not try to "rob" many of us of this magical journey with Melanie by writing such negative meaningless dribble. I think few will pay any attention to your insults. Find a player you DO like and write about him or her!
  11. Paul
    11. Posted by Paul Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Well, *, until that time comes, we'll all have to depend on you for stupid comments. Good job, by the way!
  12. KM
    12. Posted by KM Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:05 pm EDT

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    Post #1 - You don't even qualify to be an * on this board. However, you are entitled to your *pinions and I won't try to take that away. Thing is, you may have a point. Luck plays a lot in this game. But always remember, the harder and better you practise, the luckier you will become. Melanie worked hard and rode her luck. Deal with it.
  13. E to the J
    13. Posted by E to the J Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:57 pm EDT

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    haha, cora, how did we go from Oudin upsetting 3 white russian-born players to now racism against the williams sisters? venus was struggling from the get-go, she wasn't going to win this tournament; given clijsters' comeback it was only inevitable. the american population (for the most part, mind you) embraces what venus and serena have done for the game and they will in fact enter the tennis hall of fame.
    ignorance on your part is what makes people argue with you, not cynical racism.
  14. luis a
    14. Posted by luis a Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:02 pm EDT

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    who cares.......this crap is for her only. damn don't give people worthless info. to write about.
  15. Nonprofit Gypsy
    15. Posted by Nonprofit Gypsy Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:04 pm EDT

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    Yes! Serena and Oudin! Can't wait!
  16. jerry
    16. Posted by jerry Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:05 pm EDT

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    What a great story, and I only live 2 miles from her.
  17. pete'sbest14
    17. Posted by pete'sbest14 Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:07 pm EDT

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    #16 cora: Stop this childish behavior. Shut up and grow up!!!
  18. kathleen
    18. Posted by kathleen Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:07 pm EDT

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    i think she is awesome. i was told to watch her before the tournament started, i'm glad i did. love her shoes and her message. fun to see an american come from nowhere. thats what makes sports fun.
  19. bad girl
    19. Posted by bad girl Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    I can't believe #1 that said she can't wait until she loses " DID YOU FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT MICHAEL PHELPS?
    Are you jealous ?
  20. DelfinaC
    20. Posted by DelfinaC Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    Luck is winning one match against a seeded opponent, Oudin must be the luckiest 17 year old tennis player, or maybe, just maybe she can play. The results tell it all. Anyway, if it is true that these seeded players did "choke" and they have the experience, then I would say that this makes Oudin an even better tennis player. She went out there and gave it her all, let her have her days of glory, if you don't want to hear it you can have choice turn it off, mute the tv.
  21. eskimopie2100
    21. Posted by eskimopie2100 Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    Petrova, who?
  22. james
    22. Posted by james Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

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    LOL RAP artist shoes LOL
  23. Pamela
    23. Posted by Pamela Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:10 pm EDT

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    Gillette, Serena won her first US Open at 17.
  24. YouLie!
    24. Posted by YouLie! Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:10 pm EDT

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    Yeah, not sure I'm really cool with the line "fully cements her status as America's next tennis princess." Have her win something before we cement her status....sort of like the overratd Kournikova. How many GS events did she win?? (I realize she's not American....whatever.) The Williams sisters are the princesses, because they have game, GS events, scoreboard, and a winning pedigree. This chica has yellow and pink shoes. Maybe's she's the next Paris Hilton. GREAT. I can't wait for her cover on TIME magazine...PS...if you're interested, we have a princess in MLS soccer...but he's British....here's te impressive sports headline....Serena powers way into US Open quarters....Serena would kick her a**....scratch that...not would. WILL.
  25. YouLie!
    25. Posted by YouLie! Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:10 pm EDT

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    Yeah, not sure I'm really cool with the line "fully cements her status as America's next tennis princess." Have her win something before we cement her status....sort of like the overratd Kournikova. How many GS events did she win?? (I realize she's not American....whatever.) The Williams sisters are the princesses, because they have game, GS events, scoreboard, and a winning pedigree. This chica has yellow and pink shoes. Maybe's she's the next Paris Hilton. GREAT. I can't wait for her cover on TIME magazine...PS...if you're interested, we have a princess in MLS soccer...but he's British....here's te impressive sports headline....Serena powers way into US Open quarters....Serena would kick her a**....scratch that...not would. WILL.

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