Oudin, Confidence Flowing, Into WTA Paris Semifinals
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Melanie Oudin hadn’t won a main draw WTA match since last year’s US Open quarterfinal run, but that changed this week at the Open GDF Suez tournament in Paris, where the U.S. Fed Cup hero is into the semifinals.
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In the semis she will face a US Open rematch against Elena Demetieva, one of four Russians she beat at last year’s Open. On Friday Oudin outlasted Agnes Szavay 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, while Dementieva also endured a tough encounter against Andrea Petkovic 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Dementieva had nothing but positive things to say about Oudin after losing to the American last year at the US Open.
“I think she’s very talented,” Dementieva said. “She was in the court and not afraid to play. She was playing very aggressively, really enjoying this atmosphere, you know, the crowd support and really going for the winners…I feel she has a great variety. She can go for the slice, dropshot, and forehand winners, also…I think she has a very solid game…I think she moves really well. You know, the footwork is really great…she’s very patient on the court. She knows what is her strength. She’s just waiting for the moment to attack the ball. So even with she’s not very tall, but still, you know, she’s very athletic.”
Oudin’s confidence has soared since she led the U.S. Fed Cup team to an upset in France on red clay last weekend.
Saturday’s other semifinal will be Italian Flavia Pennetta against Czech Lucie Safarova. Pennetta beat fellow Italian Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 6-3, while Safarova rolled over No. 6 seed Shahar Peer 6-3, 6-0.
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