At first, it looked like Melanie Oudin was overmatched against 6’2” Russian glamour girl Maria Sharapova. The long Russian blonde broke in the first game, held easily in the second and cruised to a relatively easy 6-3 first set win.

Things changed quickly. As she did against the 5’11” 4th seeded Russian, Elena Dementieva, Melanie went into retriever supreme mode. Every ball started coming back. And, like Elena, Maria did not like it. She was forced to hit two and three extra balls per point. She was tiring. Her troubling ball toss and serve became even more laborious. Meanwhile, the fireplug from Marietta Georgia kept plugging away.

One television analyst said, “Melanie Oudin is not afraid to win.” She was right. The little engine that could was just warming to the occasion. Once Oudin understood the pace, understood that Sharapova did not want to play long points and was becoming heavy-footed, the match settled into never-never land, right where Melanie is most comfortable.

McEnroe quipped, “Oudin may not have the offensive weapons, but she has better defensive skills than most of the tour players.” Johnny Mac knows how to size up tennis players and he got that one right.

Melanie Oudin does not possess the Sharapova-Dementieva driving power shots but she moves well, crushes short balls and hits sharp down the line winners. She goes for every ball and never stands still.

Maria Sharapova showed class and courage. She could not overcome 21 double faults or 63 unforced errors. The fact of the matter is that Maria Sharapova is not in shape to play against Melanie Oudin. The fact is that very few of today’s tour players are. Maria had 63 unforced errors because she wanted shorter points. She did not feel like hitting against a backboard for another five minutes much less half an hour. The women’s tour players do not signup for three plus hour marathons.

But, for 17-year old players who hit the ball 12 hours a day as a seven year old, it was just another day on the court, doing what you love to do. Hey, Mickey D’s anyone?

As a youngster Melanie Oudin hit so many tennis balls against the garage door that the neighbors had to call her parents to ask her to stop. Jeez, it was only 10:00 p.m. and the floodlights were still working.

When Jalena Jankovic was asked about Oudin after falling to the 5’6” teenager at Wimbledon, Jankovic replied that Oudin had no weapons that could hurt you. That may be true, but Elena, Jalena and Maria are all on the sidelines with their stars dimming and one little 17-year old’s star is rising fast.

The fans at Arthur Ashe stadium were dazzled by Oudin. Sharapova has a big New York following. She looks like a New York kinda gal, but as the match elapsed, the Center Court fans rallied for Melanie. Fans were dancing in the aisles, shaking their heads in collective disbelief. This was the USA over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympic hockey game. This was the kid against the consummate professional.

At 4-4, 30-30 in the third set, both players had won 103 points. Believe Melanie, believe! She did. This little woman wants to be in the moment. Melanie Oudin is not afraid to win.

After players traded breaks, Oudin broke yet again, her eighth of the match to go up 6-5. She lost the first point. Not again! Then she rattled off three straight forehand winners. Uh Oh! Sharapova was against the wall. One more deep forehand down the line and it was match over. Melanie Oudin wins another three set match against a top opponent.

In 20 three set matches this year, Ms Oudin has won 16 times. Think about that. Think about being a 17-year old upstart and knocking off the 5th best player in the world at Wimbledon, the 4th best player in the world at the U.S. Open and a three time Grand Slam Champion at the same event. Hey, pack your bags and go home. What more do you need?

Melanie, you will not be on those silly backcourts anymore. You are the breath of fresh air that Women’s Tennis desperately needs. No matter what else happens, you have outshined all the others. You have captured our imaginations and our hearts and you have run with the ball.

The 2009 U.S Open belongs to you, Melanie. Nice going. We’ll talk about the three other Russians lying in wait for you at a later time. For tonight, take in a flick, maybe Rocky, rest that sore leg and think about… hitting those balls against the garage door. Sleep tight Munchkin!

Melanie Oudin! Georgia peach! 5’ 6” might be stretching it. She’s is short, she is square, she is cute as a button and packed with energy. On Thursday before a filled Arthur Ashe Stadium, little Melanie Oudin hoisted the youth of American tennis on her capable shoulders and a mesmerized nation across the finish line… in style.

There was no way Melanie Oudin could compete with the hottest player on the women’s professional tennis tour. No way! The problem is noone told the determined Georgia Peach that she could not beat 4th seeded 5’11” Russian glamour girl Elena Dementieva. So, just as she has done all her life, she put on her little tennis outfit, strapped up her right leg brace and carried her game and big heart onto Center Court.

As expected, Elena came out smoking and broke Melanie’s serve right out of the gate. Elena held to go up 2-0 and the crowd sensed it would be a quick out for the young blonde. But, suddenly balls that should have been outright winners were coming back. Dementieva was forced to hit two and three and sometimes even four more shots than expected. It was aggravating, really.

Elena was not used to this. Oudin became a human backboard. Everything was retrievable. Drop shots, down the line stunners, cross-court drives and quality serves that should have been aces all kept coming back. This just does not happen to players of Elena’s stature. Elena Dementieva knows when she has struck a winner. But, all bets were off as the frisky upstart simply chased down every ball.

Not only was she retrieving everything, Melanie was showing a deft touch and holding her court position. She never backed off the baseline. She was making impossible half court volleys and converting Dementieva drop shots to power drives past her outstretched opponent. Melanie Oudin rose to the occasion, seized the moment and captured the imagination of millions of tennis fans around the world.

The stunning win brought back memories of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team’s unbelievable win over the Soviet Union. Such was the depth of this upset. Hey, Melanie Oudin is a high school senior. Elena Dementieva has been playing professional tennis since 1999 when Melanie was 7 years old!

Many tennis experts, including myself, picked the much-improved Russian to upset Serena Williams and win the tournament. Now, those same experts are wondering if New Jersey native, 20 year old Christina McHale, could ever knock of the other 5’11” Russian superstar, Maria Sharapova.

About halfway through the second set, Oudin began to take the play to Elena. Melanie kept forcing the action, pressing shots. She committed 44 unforced errors but hit a whopping 30 outright winners. The unseeded American won 104 points to Dementieva’s 100.

After dropping the first set 5-7, Oudin took charge with two breaks in set two and held on for a 6-4 win. In the third set, she broke Dementieva out of the starting blocks and never looked back winning 6-3.

Other players on the verge of an upset have shown nerves. Even Dementieva who had Serena on the ropes at Wimbledon, cracked under the pressure. Oudin showed no fear. She never hesitated. She looked victory in the eye and kept going for it until she had it.

If there was ever any doubt that Melanie Oudin was a fierce competitor, forget it. Ms. Oudin has the calm determination of an experienced gunfighter. If you have any doubts, ask the number four seed, who will be watching the rest of the U.S. Open on a television set.

Way to go, Melanie Oudin! Rest up. They will be gunning for you now, kiddo.

On Tuesday night, professional tennis performed its version of a beauty pageant. Some of the game’s most luminous stars took center stage. Blonde prom queen, Maria Sharapova, showed she could play tennis while 11th seeded brunette eye-candy queen Ana Ivanovic simply ran out of gas.

It has been a disappointing year for the Serbian former number one and Tuesday’s loss to 23-year old Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko will do little to cheer the svelte former tour star. Bondarenko has never played past the third round in any Grand Slam event and has never survived the second round at the Open.

No matter how the pie is sliced, this was a bad loss for the struggling Serb. At Wimbledon, Ana appeared to have made progress with her wandering serve, but as the match wore on and the nerves tightened, so did her serve. Ana double faulted five times but only landed 59% of her defensive first serves, many of which sat up for the stocky Bondarenko. In a performance unworthy of her seeding, Ivanovic was broken five times.

To her credit, Kateryna knew a lame duck when she saw one. After a 2-6 first set horror show, she took control in set two winning 6-3 before taking charge of the third set tiebreaker 7-6 (7) third set. A raucous crowd celebrated her every move and seemed to distract the former fitness magazine cover girl.

Kateryna’s sister, 30th seeded Alona, eekd out a three set win over Russian Alla Kudraytseva and will play Gisela Dulko in Round Two. Day Two at the Open was a good one for the Bondarenkos as they are favorably placed in a weak draw.

Fifth seed professional crybaby Jalena Jankovic has re-tuned her ailing form and was all smiles for the New York crowds. She triumphed over Roberta Vinci 6-2, 6-3 in an uninteresting match.

New York crowd favorite, Sharapova, was sharp and looked every bit a serious contender. She looked well, moved well and showed signs that her ailing shoulder was recovering nicely. A strong candidate for best-dressed, the crowd responded favorably to her 6-3, 6-0 win over Tsvetana Pironkova.

Placed in a remarkably tough draw, Maria’s next match will be against New Jersey native Christina McHale, a popular 6-3, 6-1 winner over Slovakian Polona Hercog. The McHale-Sharapova winner will face the winner of Thursday’s featured match between Melanie Oudin and Elena Dementieva, in the tournament’s toughest bracket.

When Elena Dementieva wins her first Grand Slam Championship at the 2009 US Open, the 11-year tour veteran will finally shake that “best player to have never won a major” label. In a sport that is beginning to look like a Russian talent show, Elena Dementieva is the best of the lot.

With more than $12 million in career earnings, the 5’11” 27-year old blonde beauty need not make excuses or offer an assortment of sob stories as some of her more pampered teammates have chosen to do. That is not Elena’s style. Elena Dementieva takes her graceful game to the court, puts out 100% every time and always walks away with her head held high. Elena Dementieva has nothing about which to be ashamed.

Tennis has been good for Elena and Elena has been good for tennis. The slender bombshell has won 449 professional singles matches. She has won 50 of those matches in 2009 while losing just 13 times. In the last five Grand Slam Tournaments, Elena has reached the semifinals four times.

Neither top seed laughingstock Dinara Safina, second seeded Serena Williams or third seeded Venus Williams can boast such a consistent Grand Slam record over the past two years. Elena has not always been in her best playing form, working her way through a series of nagging injuries. However, Elena finds ways to win.

At Wimbledon this year, Elena took her A game right to Serena Williams, offering the eventual champion all she could handle in a stirring three set match. The semifinal battle was far and away the most exciting match of the London tournament.

Dementieva showed a return to form in England. Her foot speed and groundstrokes were exquisite. What thrilled Elena’s fans most was her very competitive service game, long deemed her Achilles heel. With her newfound velocity has come an increased confidence and as Serena will attest, a confident Elena is a very dangerous contender.

Claiming her first Grand Slam title will not be easy. The Dementieva quarterfinal bracket is the most difficult in the Open. Likely pairings will include a second round tussle with American teen sensation Melanie Oudin, a quarterfinalist and surprise dominator of the 5th seeded Jankovic in London. Oudin’s serve is a problem but she can expect boisterous support from the U.S. crowds.

A likely third round matchup will be against 29th seed and another crowd favorite Maria Sharapova. Russia will have two of its most notable stars on the court for that battle. Maria has won two Grand Slams and the 2006 Open. Now, that is a third round match to remember! The tall, beautiful blondes will provide plenty of firepower in the best third round paring of the event.

The most likely 5th round match will feature yet another Russian top seed, Nadia Petrova. 2009 has been a good year for Petrova. With 439 career wins and no fear of anyone, Nadia can play with anyone.

In the quarters, Elena can look forward to a colossal pairing with still one more Russian, 6th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova. Svetlana’s 2009 resume shows 31 wins, 11 losses and 1 Grand Slam earned the hard way, in Paris. Kuznetsova will have her own challenges with the likes of Carla Navarro Suarez, Agnes Szavay, Sorana Cirstea and Caroline Wozniacki in her bracket, but it pales in comparison to Elena’s road.

After Elena disposes of Svetlana, the biggest Russian of them all, top seed Dinara Safina, might be waiting in the semis. Safina will not go quietly, but she will go. Safina’s only severe challenge might come from the unpredictable but always game Ana Ivanovic. Neither player is up to Dementieva’s form. Elena may actually draw a sigh or relief at the semi pairing because the way the deck is stacked, it will be an imposing journey past two major champions just to get there.

But, that is the way it is in professional tennis. And, it is the way a woman about to claim her first US. Open and her first Grand Slam should want it to be. All hail, Elena Dementieva, a player who just keeps getting better and better.

After watching the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, tennis enthusiasts must be asking how can it be! Dinara Safina seeded atop the U.S. Open? Remarkable! Tournament directors, wake up! Dinara just does not cut it as a number one seed. If you know New York, you know these fans will announce and perhaps even celebrate her shortcomings in no time at all. After all, they do not call it the Bronx Cheer for no reason.

To make matters worse, professional crybaby Jelena Jankovic is seeded fifth. Granted she helped to launch American Melanie Oudin to stardom and we all appreciate that but how that qualifies the year’s most disappointing player as a fifth seed is beyond intelligence. Watch for theatrical injury timeouts and other Jankovic stall tactics as her most sincere effort to stay center stage.

If Dinara or Jelena pull their crybaby antics in New York, they are in for a surprise. These crowds expect champions to perform, not act. Safina and Jankovic at the top of the Women’s draw give the whole tournament a suspicious look. The sooner they are gone, they self-destruct, the better the event will be.

The way this draw is orchestrated, the one seed should meet the five seed in the quarters. Good luck. Not going to happen. Jankovic can stumble anywhere along a relatively easy path and Safina can beat herself against any player in the world.

Fortunately, there is a working girl in that top bracket. This may be Ana Ivanovic’s best opportunity to make a semifinal this year. The pretty Serb needs a win to get back in the tennis and fashion top 10. She has been working hard on that feeble serve and she just may reap some dividends. Look for Ana to survive in a war of attrition and reach the semis after knocking off Jankovic in the fourth round and Safina in the quarters.

In the bottom of the upper bracket, the tournament’s eventual winner resides. Her name is Elena Dementieva. She was one step, one serve away from winning Wimbledon. Elena is one of the few players that can stay with the two seed and the world’s best female player, Serena Williams.

Elena possesses the foot speed and the athleticism to reach the finals. Her bracket offers very stiff competition. In the second round, she will most likely meet crowd favorite and Wimbledon quarterfinalist, 17-year old Melanie Oudin. In the second round! Now, that is a tough draw!

Fellow Russian Maria Sharapova should, be waiting in the third round. Wow! The tournament brain trust did not make this bracket easy! In the bottom of the bracket Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a finalist in Paris, and tenacious Agnes Szavay look anxious for a shot at Elena. Yikes! There is more talent in this bracket than anywhere else in the tournament.

Listen up Dinara! The world’s best female tennis player is positioned at the bottom of the draw. American Serena Williams who stormed past Safina in Melbourne and breezed through Wimbledon may be seeded second but she has the crowd and the surface in her favor along with more game than anyone in the field. She will have an interesting final match with Elena and women’s tennis could sure benefit from a memorable finals. We still expect Elena’s tough bracket and easy semifinal pairing to play in her favor and carry her to victory.

Serena will have to overcome the likes of always-tough Aussie Samantha Stosur, Daniela Hantuchoya and the ferocious Russian Vera Zvonareva to reach the semis. Serena will ride her loyal and boisterous fans to victory.

Serena’s little but older sister Venus is seeded third. She has a tough path to the semis and a rematch of the Wimbledon finals. Kala Kanepi, Anabel Garrigues Medina and Marion Bartoli are waiting in the wings. However, the real threat will come from 8th seed, Victoria Azarenka. If the hard-hitting Azarenka has improved her speed and conditioning just a bit, she should eek out a win over Venus and square away with Serena in the semis. Serena will win, but this one will be tough and a lot more difficult than Elena’s semifinal pairing against Safina.

Elena we are counting on you. The door is open. Walk on through and claim your rightful spot. Hail to Elena Dementieva, the 2009 U.S. Open Women’s Champion to be!

Following is the complete list of the women’s ranking

1. Dinara Safina, Russia
2. Serena Williams, United States
3. Venus Williams, United States
4. Elena Dementieva, Russia
5. Jelena Jankovic, Serbia
6. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia
7. Vera Zvonareva, Russia
8. Victoria Azarenka, Belarus
9. Caroline Wozniacki, Denmark
10. Flavia Pennetta, Italy
11. Ana Ivanovic, Serbia
12. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland
13. Nadia Petrova, Russia
14. Marion Bartoli, France
15. Samantha Stosur, Australia
16. Virginie Razzano, France
17. Amelie Mauresmo, France
18. Na Li, China
19. Patty Schnyder, Switzerland
20. Anabel Medina Garrigues, Spain
21. Jie Zheng, China
22. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovak Republic
23. Sabine Lisicki, Germany
24. Sorana Cirstea, Romania
25. Kaia Kanepi, Estonia
26. Francesca Schiavone, Italy
27. Alisa Kleybanova, Russia
28. Sybille Bammer, Austria
29. Maria Sharapova, Russia
30. Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine
31. Elena Vesnina, Russia
32. Agnes Szavay, Hungary