Oudin Eager to Make a Comeback on WTA Tour

Written by: Staff on 5th December 2011

Oudin Eager to Make a Comeback on WTA Tour |

Melanie Oudin was, briefly, the golden girl of American tennis, but the acclamation she received was not necessarily deserved. True, she thrilled the partisan crowd at the 2009 US Open with stunning victories over Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova. True, she qualified for Wimbledon and upset world number six but grass-hating Jelena Jankovic to reach the fourth round.

But it is not unusual for a player to go on a hot streak for a week or two and then not be able to maintain. Oudin just happened to have her hot streaks at two of the biggest events on the calendar. That success eventually became a monkey on her back as she failed to live up to the hype and expectations and follow up what she had achieved in New York, and she has struggled ever since.

She has ended this season at 166, after once climbing to just outside the top 30. Now she is working with the USTA’s Tom Gullikson, and he will be striving to halt her downward slide back into the ITF Challenger level events. Fed Cup boss Mary Joe Fernandez knows the talent is there, but believes the confidence is not.

“She really struggled with her confidence (in 2011),” she said. “I’d like to see her get back to basics, get back to what she does well, which is move around the court, throw in the variety, use her forehand. I think sometimes you get to a certain level and you think, ‘Okay, what do I need to do for the next one?’ I think Melanie tried to do a little bit too much and played outside what comes naturally to her.”

Topics: Melanie Oudin