Oudin the Russian Killer; American Men Out at US Open
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Americans were the big story on Monday at the US Open. The men were a bust because John Isner, the last American male in the draw, lost, making for no Americans in the quarterfinals for the first time EVER. The women were the opposite as unseeded Melanie Oudin provided yet another seeded upset, and Serena Williams still remains alive.
ADHEREL
Oudin beat No. 13 seed Nadia Petrova 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3. She’s an American version of Justine Henin. No “big weapons” but can pull the trigger and hit winners when need be. At only 17 years old, she’s all upside and will only get better. Next she’ll meet No. 9 seed Caroline Wozniacki who upset No. 6 Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 in the third set. That was a break for Oudin. Now she plays someone who can’t power her off the court.
In other weak matches in the same weak half of the draw Kateryna Bondarenko somehow beat Gisela Dulko 6-0, 6-0 and Yanina Wickmayer outlasted Petra Kvitova 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Isner lost to Fernando Verdasco in four sets. Either Isner isn’t over the mono like he says he is, or he needs to get in shape. Dead tired by the fourth round isn’t going to win Slams. Look at Oudin, she was 15 lbs. overweight earlier in the year before she got serious and now looks like a fitness commercial. She was strong while Petrova wilted.
This is the first time in 128 years of the US Open or U.S. National Championships as it used to be called that no American reached the quarterfinals.
World No. 1 Roger Federer set up a mouthwatering quarterfinal against Robin Soderling by beating Tommy Robredo in straight sets. If Soderling has the right attitude and brings the firepower and Fed has one of his off days this could be trouble.
Verdasco will next play Novak Djokovic after the Serb beat down The Worm Radek Stepanek in straight sets.
All the American men are gone, but all the RUSSIAN WOMEN are gone too. Who would have picked that? Oudin put out most of them herself! Two of the women’s quarterfinals will be played Tuesday: unseeded Kim Clijsters the favorite against No. 18 seed Na Li of China and No. 2 Serena Williams a favorite over No. 10 Flavia Pennetta (who owns her sister Venus lately).
Tuesday the men finish up the fourth round with four matches, all interesting: No. 16 Marin Cilic vs. No. 2 Andy Murray, No. 13 Gael Monfils vs. No. 3 Rafael Nadal, No. 6 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. No. 24 former top dog Juan Carlos Ferrero, and No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez.
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