Melanie Oudin

Melanie Jennings Oudin (born September 23, 1991) is an American former professional tennis player.

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.

Oudin began new season at the Hobart International where she lost to Sara Errani in the first round.

At the Australian Open, she was defeated in the first round by Alla Kudryavtseva.

During the Fed Cup tie versus France, Oudin won both of her rubbers over Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin.

Oudin turned professional in February 2008.

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.

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.

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.

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 Wimbledon, Oudin entered as a qualifier.

She defeated No. 29, Sybille Bammer, in three sets in the first round, and Yaroslava Shvedova in three sets in the second.

Oudin defeated also world No. 6, Jelena Janković, but lost to Agnieszka Radwańska in the fourth round.

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.

She reached a career-high ranking of world No. 31 in April 2010.

In the fourth round, she played another Russian, 13th-seeded Nadia Petrova.

She defeated Petrova to reach the quarterfinals of the event.

Oudin retired from professional tour on August 18, 2017, citing numerous health issues and injuries.

Oudin, a Marietta, Georgia native, has a twin sister, Katherine, and a younger sister, Christina.

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".

While the decision proved to be very beneficial for her career, Oudin admits envying her twin sister's experiences at a regular school.

She says her idol is Justine Henin because "she proved you don't have to be tall to win things."

Her grandmother inspired her and her sister to play tennis when she gave them racquets and lessons when they were young.