[bWxNFI3c]

NORCROSS, Georgia (CNN) -- Beneath seven flat-screen TVs and one large pulldown screen, members of the Racquet Club of the South gathered Monday to watch and celebrate one of their own.

Melanie Oudin, 17, of Marietta, Georgia, has been taking the tennis world by storm at the U.S. Open. The 70th-ranked female on Saturday defeated Maria Sharapova, the No. 29 seed and former No. 1 world-ranked female player. And on Monday, she beat 13th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets.

"It's still so surreal," said Anne Keeton, player liaison at the club, before the match started. "She sort of wins no matter what happens. She's there going for it and not giving up."

At this suburban club, co-owned and co-directed by Oudin's longtime coach, Brian de Villiers, articles about the local tennis phenom dot the walls. In the Grill, on a Bud Light message board above drink specials, are the words "Congratulations Melanie!" And a photo of her mixed in with other young players is posted near a downstairs fitness room.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/07/mel...nis/index.html

[Tusanoc]

She makes it pretty easy to root for her

[insightmike]

And she has backing from the Federers too

Count Robert Federer among the throngs of ecstatic Melanie Oudin fans at the United States Open. The father of Roger Federer, the men’s No. 1 player, who was scheduled to play at Arthur Ashe Stadium after Oudin’s fourth-round victory over Nadia Petrova, was smiling and bouncing and shaking his head in delight as Oudin made her way off the court and Roger Federer made his way on.

“She’s really something, isn’t she?” Robert Federer said. “She just keeps doing it to these Russians.”

Federer wondered aloud how Oudin managed to get into the heads of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and now Petrova. Noting Oudin’s knack for outlasting Russian opponents who tend to make fatal mistakes late in a match, Federer said, “Something is going on.” http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.co...r-federers-dad

[Qynvtlur]

As Melanie Oudin was celebrating her fourth-round victory over Nadia Petrova, her coach, Brian de Villiers, spoke about his pupil’s development, and why she wasn't a high-rated junior prospect. De Villiers, who teaches at a club in Atlanta, has coached Oudin since she was 9 years old, an uncommonly long coaching relationship by the standards of today’s professional game. Outspoken and sharp, de Villiers has been critical of the "results now" philosophy that currently defines junior tennis; the emphasis is often placed on winning tournaments, rather than developing techniques and strategies that prepare players for the future Here's what de Villiers had to say to reporters about Oudin's 2009 U.S. Open run and her future.

Melanie was overlooked as a junior, but here she is having more success than anyone in her age group. Why is that?

Brian de Villiers: You don't want to go there with me. The problem with American tennis, number one, is they don't dream big enough, they're not sold the dream, and then they don't believe in themselves. You have dream big, and you have to aim to be the best. I think people are afraid to put themselves on the line and say, “Hey, I want to be number one.” Dream big, and then try and make your dreams come true. And that's exactly what this child is doing. She dreams big and she believes. There are a lot of talented girls out there, tons of them. But I'll leave it at that.

What are her parents like?

They're just a normal family. I've been very lucky. From day one when they dropped the kids off [Oudin's sister, Katherine, is a college-bound player], they've left me alone and never fussed with me about results, what we're working on—I've done the schedule, I do all that. Most parents, I have a lot now who still bother me at the club, come sit on the court and tell me what to do. They've never, ever done that. And she's believed in me. I sold her the dream, told her how we were going to do it, and we came up here [to the U.S. Open] when she was 12 years old and got a feel for the place and she said, “Yeah, I'm gonna be here one day. This is what I want to do.”

Did you believe there was a limit to her potential because of her small size?

No, because she's playing smarter. I'm trying to teach her to play smarter than everybody else out there. A lot of players are just bang, bang, bang. Just walk around and watch the juniors now, some of the stuff out there—not much variety.

How far is she from her peak?

She turns 18 this month. Tennis is an ongoing thing. You don't ever get to a point and say, “Now I know how to play.” It's continuous, now matter how old you are. A lot of people think, 'Boom, now I'm a player, that's it.' It doesn't work like that. Better players come along, you get pushed, different surfaces, different circumstances come up.

Has she ever had a fear of losing?

She's never had a fear of losing. Look, I've been very, very tough on that kid. I've let her have it many, many a time when she's made bad decisions out there, because that's something she can control. If she misses a shot, that's fine, but to make a bad decision through neglect and sloppiness and lack of concentration, that's the stuff that drives me nuts. I think it's helped in the long run because she adjusts out there very quickly and she figures things out.

Why does she have to lose the first set?

Just to continue to annoy me and stress me out. The girls she's playing now, this is the hardest ball she's faced. It takes a little time to adjust and get the hang of it. When you're playing at the Challengers, you don't see balls that are coming at a hundred-and-something miles an hour, you don't see serves whizzing by at 120 miles an hour. So it takes time just to adjust to the pace, to get a read on the players, and then formulate a plan in her head and get to work.

http://www.tennis.com/print.aspx?id=184690

[gardenerextraordinaire]

That's a very harsh indictment of the USTA development program. And I'd bet my house that it is SPOT on.

[Qynvtlur]

That's a very harsh indictment of the USTA development program. And I'd bet my house that it is SPOT on.

I heard about Oudin a few months ago and questioned why she was left off of some important Junior teams. I was told emphatically that my perception was wrong, that she is indeed highly thought of by the development program. I still saw her being left off of things but I kept my thoughts to myself.

Now her coach comes along and confirms what I thought all along. Her coach has no reason to lie about the situation. It's going to be very interesting indeed if her success continues.

[loikrso]

From the CNN article:

"It's still so surreal," said Anne Keeton, player liaison at the club, before the match started. "She sort of wins no matter what happens. She's there going for it and not giving up." That's it right there.

[loikrso]

"If she misses a shot, that's fine, but to make a bad decision through neglect and sloppiness and lack of concentration, that's the stuff that drives me nuts."

::

The coach is fierce. And yes, what an indictment. And he's spot on because the current crop of American tennis players not named Williams simply don't believe in themselves when it matters most.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

I heard about Oudin a few months ago and questioned why she was left off of some important Junior teams. I was told emphatically that my perception was wrong, that she is indeed highly thought of by the development program. I still saw her being left off of things but I kept my thoughts to myself.

Now her coach comes along and confirms what I thought all along. Her coach has no reason to lie about the situation. It's going to be very interesting indeed if her success continues.

Two things. First, other than Querrey, I can't think of another young American that has come close to delivering. I don't think Isner came up through the usual route but can't say for sure. Second, is this a uniquely American phenomenon? I ask because of Bartoli. She went her own way. She's now the no. 1 woman in France. Look at Gasquet. It all has me wondering.

In any case, I like nonconformists. He'll, Querrey came up through the system, yet no one ever taught him to chew with his mouth closed. What's up with that?

[loikrso]

Two things. First, other than Querrey, I can't think of another young American that has come close to delivering.

When has Querrey come close to delivering?

[loikrso]

Focus on the "come close" part. And take those words VERY loosely.

Okay.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

When has Querrey come close to delivering?

Focus on the "come close" part. And take those words VERY loosely.

[GrileVege]

That's a very harsh indictment of the USTA development program. And I'd bet my house that it is SPOT on.

Well considering the top 3 American women didn't put too much stock in the USTA junior program, I'm gonna venture to say that the junior program is very flawed.

[bWxNFI3c]

When has Querrey come close to delivering?

LOL. Thank you.

::

I don't think international sports are as important to this America as they are to other countries. There's very little government support, if any, whereas other countries have government sponsored agencies supporting sports.

[Luisabens]

"And yes, what an indictment. And he's spot on because the current crop of American Russian tennis players not named Williams simply don't believe in themselves when it matters most.

And Nadal was another one who chose not to go through the traditional junior programs.

All players with huge fighting never say die spirits.

[mensforyouthis]

The coach is fierce. And yes, what an indictment. And he's spot on because the current crop of American tennis players not named Williams simply don't believe in themselves when it matters most.

Can we add and Russian players to that comment?

[gardenerextraordinaire]

LOL. Thank you.

::

I don't think international sports are as important to this America as they are to other countries. There's very little government support, if any, whereas other countries have government sponsored agencies supporting sports.

Given the massive amount of money that the USO makes every year, with the proceeds going (supposedly) to developing tennis talent in the U.S., there shouldn't be any need for government support.

And even if there was, and it occurred in the form of a grant to, most likely, the USTA, if the USTA thinking is flawed, then any such additional funding would do no good.

::

I was thinking about the original piece Amie posted more as I was checking the Sveta/Caro score on my iPhone... Melanie has been with this coach for a LONG time. It sounds like there's a lot of loyalty. And at this point, I fall into the "if it ain't broke, then don't fix it" category where there relationship is concerned.

But part of me HAS to wonder... If it gets to the point where it looks like some new influence and direction is necessary, I'm not sure she'll take it. I guess this is related to what we've seen transpire over the course of the careers of James Blake, Donald Young, perhaps even to some degree the Williams Sisters (though Venus has in particular seemed to invite outside influences from time to time). Sometimes loyalty can hinder a career. I wonder if Melanie will be able to bite that bullet if the time arrives. And it very well may. Especially when "the book on beating Melanie Oudin" comes out.