Melanie Jennings Oudin[1] (born September 23, 1991) is an American former professional tennis player. The former world junior No. 2 was a member of the American Fed Cup team from 2009 to 2011 and the winner of the 2011 US Open mixed-doubles title, with fellow American player Jack Sock.
As a 17-year-old in the middle of 2009, Oudin reached the round of 16 of the Wimbledon Championships, followed by a quarterfinal at the US Open six weeks later. She reached a career-high ranking of world No. 31 in April 2010.
Oudin retired from professional tour on August 18, 2017, citing numerous health issues and injuries.[2]
Personal life
Oudin, a Marietta, Georgia native, has a twin sister, Katherine, and a younger sister, Christina.[3] Introduced to the sport at the age of seven alongside sister Katherine, it was clear Melanie had a gift. As she continued to improve, her time spent on the court increased as well. In seventh grade, she made the decision to homeschool, giving her more time on the practice courts and an opportunity to play more tournaments. In an article with Atlanta Magazine, Oudin said, "If I was going to homeschool, I was going to try to go pro for sure".[4] While the decision proved to be very beneficial for her career, Oudin admits envying her twin sister's experiences at a regular school.[5] She says her idol is Justine Henin because "she proved you don't have to be tall to win things."[6] Her grandmother inspired her and her sister to play tennis when she gave them racquets and lessons when they were young.[7]
Tennis career
2008–09: Breakthrough on WTA Tour, US Open quarterfinal, and top-50 ranking
Oudin turned professional in February 2008.[8] In April 2008, she received a wildcard at the WTA tournament in Miami where she lost in the first round to Tathiana Garbin, in three sets.[9] In August, Oudin received a wildcard into her first Grand Slam main draw at the US Open. She was defeated by Australian Jessica Moore, 7–6, 7–6.
In October that year, Oudin participated in the Bell Challenge in Quebec City. In the first round, she defeated third seed Sybille Bammer. In the second round, she defeated Olga Puchkova in two sets. Reaching her first WTA quarterfinal, she was defeated by sixth seed Bethanie Mattek.
Oudin began 2009 by qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open. She was then defeated in the first round by Akgul Amanmuradova, in straight sets.
At the US Open, Oudin entered as a wildcard. In her first-round match, she easily defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6–1, 6–2. In the second round, she stunned fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva in her Arthur Ashe Stadium debut. Then in the third round, she defeated a resurgent Maria Sharapova. At 17 years of age, Oudin reached the fourth round of a major event for the second consecutive time. In the fourth round, she played another Russian, 13th-seeded Nadia Petrova. She defeated Petrova to reach the quarterfinals of the event. She became the youngest woman since Serena Williams in 1999 to reach the quarterfinals at the US Open, and the youngest since Sharapova to reach the quarterfinals at a major. Her Cinderella story ended when ninth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki defeated her, 6–2, 6–2. A standing ovation occurred when Oudin was leaving the court. After the US Open, Oudin's ranking rose into the top 50, her first appearance there.
During the Fed Cup tie versus France, Oudin won both of her rubbers over Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin. The U.S. team won the tie over France 4–1 to move on to the semifinal round.[11] Oudin reached her first semifinal of a WTA Tour event at the Paris indoor event. She fell in three sets to top seed Elena Dementieva, in a rematch of their 2009 US Open second-round match.[12] Seeded second at the Cellular South Cup, Oudin made it to the quarterfinal round where she lost to qualifier and eventual finalist Sofia Arvidsson.[13] In March, she played at the Indian Wells Open where she was defeated in the first round by Roberta Vinci.[14] At the Miami Open, Oudin lost in the second round to 11th seed Vera Zvonareva.[15] Seeded eighth at Amelia Island, she eliminated in the quarterfinal round by fourth seed Elena Vesnina.[16]
2011: Singles downfall, mixed-doubles Grand Slam title
In the Fed Cup tie against Belgium, Oudin lost her first rubber to Kim Clijsters, 0–6, 4–6.[19] In her final rubber, she was defeated by Yanina Wickmayer 6–2, 6–0.[20] Belgium reached the semifinals at the Fed Cup defeating the USA 4–1.[21] Oudin got her first win of the year at Paris, where she beat Vera Dushevina in the first round in three sets.[22] In the second round, Oudin lost to eighth seed Dominika Cibulková of Slovakia.[23] Having reached the semifinals the year before, Oudin's ranking dropped from No. 61 to No. 72. Oudin's next tournament was the Memphis South Cup. Seeded third, she won her first-round match against Anastasia Pivovarova 6–4, 6–0.[24] In the second, she faced Evgeniya Rodina, only to lose 1–6, 5–7.[25] Oudin was unable to defend her quarterfinal points from last year and therefore saw her ranking fall from No. 72 to No. 81. At the Mexican Open, she retired from her first-round match against qualifier Lesia Tsurenko.[citation needed] Ranked 82 at the Monterrey Open, Oudin won her first-round match over fellow American Vania King 6–4, 6–1.[26] She was defeated in the second round by second seed and eventual champion, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.[27] Ranked 84 at Indian Wells, Oudin won her first-round match over Elena Vesnina.[28] However, she was eliminated in the second round by 23rd seed Yanina Wickmayer.[29] Moving on to Miami, Oudin started the tournament well with a first-round win over Julia Görges[30] but was defeated in the second by 29th seed Daniela Hantuchová, 6–1, 6–3.[31]
Oudin started her grass-court season at the Nottingham Trophy. Seeded fourth, she lost in the second round to Sloane Stephens. At the Miami Open, a tournament that is not on grass, Oudin was defeated in the first round by Michaëlla Krajicek.[41] Playing at Eastbourne, Oudin lost in the final round of qualifying to Zheng Jie 1–6, 4–6. Ranked 87 at Wimbledon, Oudin was defeated in the first round by 18th seed Ana Ivanovic, 6–0, 6–1.[42]
As the top seed at the Lexington Challenger, Oudin lost in the first round to Chanel Simmonds.[43] Oudin started her US Open Series by competing at the first edition of the Washington Open where she fell in the first round to third seed Tamira Paszek.[44] At the Carlsbad Open, Oudin was crushed in the first round by Elena Baltacha, 6–0, 6–1.[45] Oudin lost in the first round of qualifying at the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open to fifth seed Bojana Jovanovski (4–6, 2–6) and 15th seed Kateryna Bondarenko (1–6, 4–6). In her next tournament, she received a wildcard entry into the singles main draw at the first edition of the Texas Open. In the first round, she was up against lucky loser Akgul Amanmuradova. Oudin was leading 7–6, 1–0 when her opponent retired due to a lower back injury.[46] In the second round, she lost to qualifier Angelique Kerber, 3–6, 2–6.[47] Ranked 113 at the US Open, Oudin lost in the first round to qualifier Romina Oprandi.[48] However, in mixed doubles, she and Jack Sock captured the title defeating the eighth seeded Argentine pairing of Gisela Dulko and Eduardo Schwank in the final.[49]
She was awarded the USTA French Open wildcard, an account of her performance in the USTA Pro Circuit.[57] At the French Open, Oudin drew Johanna Larsson of Sweden in the first round and won 6–3, 6–3. It was her first win ever at the French Open.[58] In the second round, she lost to 21st seed and eventual finalist, Sara Errani, in straight sets.[59]
Oudin began her grass-court season at the Nottingham Trophy. After qualifying for the main draw, she lost in the first round to Heather Watson.[60] Next, Oudin competed at the Birmingham Classic where she qualified for the main draw beating eighth seed Bibiane Schoofs and 16th seed Gail Brodsky. In the main draw, Oudin advanced to her first WTA Tour final defeating tenth seed Sorana Cîrstea, qualifier Michelle Larcher De Brito, Elena Vesnina, Irina Falconi, and eighth seed Ekaterina Makarova. The tournament was filled with rain delays and Oudin had to cope with the difficulty of coming off and on the court. She then defeated fifth seed Jelena Janković in the final to win her first WTA title.[61][62][63] Winning the tournament bumped up her ranking from 208 to 122. Her performance earned her a wildcard for Wimbledon.[64] At Wimbledon, she was given one of seven wildcard entries into the main draw. In the first round, she lost to world No. 69, Tímea Babos, in three sets.[65]
At the US Open, No. 107 ranked Oudin was unseeded and lost to 15th seed Lucie Šafářová of the Czech Republic in straight sets.[66] In the women's doubles, she also lost in the first round teaming up with Grace Min.
Competing in Tennessee at the U.S. National Indoor Championships, Oudin lost in the first round to Andrea Hlaváčková.[68] In March, she was defeated in the first round at Indian Wells by wildcard and compatriot Madison Keys.[69] At Miami, she lost in the first round of qualifying to Alexa Glatch. Seeded eighth at The Oaks Club Challenger, Oudin was defeated in the first round by Estrella Cabeza Candela.
She began her preparation for the French Open at the Family Circle Cup where she lost in the first round to ninth seed, 2007 champion, and eventual finalist Jelena Janković.[70] At the Portugal Open, Oudin was defeated in the first round of qualifying by Valeria Savinykh.[71] Oudin fell in the final round of qualifying at the Madrid Open to Chanelle Scheepers.[72] Getting past qualifying at the Italian Open, Oudin won her first-round match when her opponent, Ekaterina Makarova, retired due to a left achilles tendon injury.[73] Despite winning the first set, she lost in the second round to 14th seed Dominika Cibulková.[74] Entering the Brussels Open after coming through qualifying, Oudin was defeated in the first round by Romina Oprandi.[75] At the French Open, Oudin upset 28th seed Tamira Paszek in the first round[76] but lost in the second to Jie Zheng.[77]
Oudin began US Open Series at the Washington Open where she reached the second round, and lost to top seed Angelique Kerber.[80] At the Western & Southern Open, Oudin was defeated in the first round of qualifying by Chanelle Scheepers. Playing at the US Open, Oudin lost in the first round of qualifying to Elena Baltacha.[81]
During the week of September ninth, Oudin competed in Quebec City at the Challenge Bell. Although she came through the qualifying rounds, she was defeated in the first round by second seed Kristina Mladenovic.[82] Seeded sixth at the Coleman Vision Championships, Oudin lost in her second-round match to Petra Rampre. Oudin won the Party Rock Open, a $50k tournament in Las Vegas, beating compatriot CoCo Vandeweghe in the final.[83] Seeded third at the $25k tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Oudin made it to the semifinal where she was defeated by top seed Mariana Duque. Seeded third in Canada at the Challenger de Saguenay, Oudin lost in the semifinal round to second seed Coco Vandeweghe.[84] Oudin stayed in Canada to compete at the Tevlin Challenger in Toronto. Seeded third, she was defeated in her semifinal match by Tímea Babos. Oudin competed in her final tournament of the season at the South Seas Island Resort Pro Classic and lost in the first round to compatriot Allie Kiick.
Oudin ended the season ranked 127.
Fed Cup
Oudin played singles in the United States' Fed Cup tie against Argentina in February 2009, losing her first match against Gisela Dulko, but winning the second match against Betina Jozami in three sets.[85]
In the 2010 Fed Cup, Oudin led the US to a 4–1 victory over France by defeating Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin. Against Russia, Oudin then defeated Alla Kudryavtseva in her first singles match, while losing to Elena Dementieva in her second match. Her team still advanced to the final in San Diego. Contrary to expectations, lower ranked CoCo Vandeweghe was chosen over Oudin for the first singles match against Francesca Schiavone. After the US team lost both matches on the first day, Oudin replaced Bethanie Mattek-Sands for the third singles match against Schiavone and won 6–3, 6–1. This kept her team in contention, but proved futile since Vandeweghe lost the next match against Flavia Pennetta. In the 2011 Fed Cup World Group tie against Belgium, Oudin lost both her singles matches against Kim Clijsters and Yanina Wickmayer. In April, she also lost her two matches in the 2011 Fed Cup World Group play-offs where the US dropped out of the World Group for the first time since its formation in 1995.
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