Oudin is just what the doctor ordered
Melanie Oudin is this year’s darling of the United States Open tennis tournament and it couldn’t have come at a better time. As CBS, ESPN2, and The Tennis Channel pan across massive, record crowds of tennis fans roaming the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, it is apparent that there is renewed interest in tennis in this country. Perhaps this is due in part to the increasing number of American contenders in the men’s side of the tournament, but the sustained interest will be without thanks to Andy Roddick, James Blake, Sam Querrey, or Robby Ginepri. In fact, none of these four hopefuls were the last American man standing in the tournament — it was big John Isner — and yet all of them played a part in being the first group of American men in the history of the tournament to fail to send a member to the quarterfinals. Still, the USTA and the television rights-holders will take huge comfort in the fact that this darling of the tournament — 17-year-old Melanie Oudin — will still be alive on Thursday to keep her dream, and the dream of so many fans, alive for at least one more match. Here’s to hoping that the men will be ready to do their part next year.
