The US’ newest heroine, Melanie Oudin, continued her dream-like run at the US Open with another upset on Monday while steely top seed Roger Federer moved closer to his 16th Grand Slam crown.
“Mentally I’m staying in there with them the whole time, and I’m not giving up at all,” the 17-year-old Oudin said after reaching her first major quarter-final with a 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 victory over Russian Nadia Petrova.
After belting a forehand winner to close out the match, Oudin raised her arms, and looked at the sky while the crowd roared.
On an unseasonably cool day at Flushing Meadows, the Russians concluded their worst Grand Slam performance in nearly a decade, while the US men had their worst showing in New York since tennis turned professional in 1968.
Federer, however, was his usual brilliant self, blitzing 14th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
Fourth seed Novak Djokovic had an easy time bouncing 15th seed Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 and then delighted the crowd by impersonating John McEnroe’s on-court quirks and fiery temper.
He then called McEnroe out of the broadcast booth to good naturedly play a few points.
Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki managed the day’s biggest upset when she toppled former champion and No. 6 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 2-6, 7-6, 7-6 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The ninth seed will face Oudin in the quarters.
John Isner’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 ,6-4 loss to Fernando Verdasco of Spain marked the first time since 1968 that no US male advanced to the Open quarter-finals.
The story of the Open so far is the diminutive Oudin, whose never-say-die style of play and bubbly demeanor has made her the darling of Flushing Meadows.
“It’s really a great feeling,” the 70th-ranked Oudin said of her support. “Everyone stood up when I had my first match point. Just when I won the second set, a standing ovation. It’s crazy how many people are cheering for me and supporting me.”
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Kevin Ullyett of Zimbabwe beat Zi Yan and Mariusz Frystenberg in straight sets in the quarter-finals of the mixed doubles. The No. 5 seeds won 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4) to earn a semi-final clash against Cara Black and Leander Paes.
In the men’s doubles Mahesh Bhupathi of India and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas defeated Taiwan’s Lu-Yen hsun and Dudi Sela of Israel 6-4, 6-4.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
Also See: US OPEN 2009: Henin’s legacy lingers on in rising star Wickmayer
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