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17-Year-Old Oudin Upsets Sharapova

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 5, 2009 5:27 PM CDT
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(AP) – She sat there in shock. Then, the tears started falling. Believe it or not, 17-year-old Melanie Oudin is the toast of the town at the US Open. Gritting her way through a shaky third set, the 70th-ranked player from Marietta, Ga., pulled off her second upset of the Open today, defeating a more-seasoned, more-famous, more-moneyed opponent—29th-seeded Maria Sharapova, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

"I don't even know what to say right now," Oudin said, choking back tears in her postmatch interview in Arthur Ashe Stadium. "Thank you so much for cheering for me." Sharapova, who has won this tournament once, usually gets those cheers. But on this cloudless day in Queens, the fans were rooting for a new potential queen—the one who stamped the word "Believe" on her shoes, but probably didn't see this coming so soon.

Melanie Oudin of the United States, celebrates her 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia, during the third round of the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Melanie Oudin of the United States, celebrates her 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia, during the third round of the US Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her upset loss to Melanie Oudin of the United States during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her upset loss to Melanie Oudin of the United States during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Melanie Oudin, left, of the US, shakes hands with Maria Sharapova of Russia in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Melanie Oudin, left, of the US, shakes hands with Maria Sharapova of Russia in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)
Melanie Oudin of the United States, celebrates her 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Melanie Oudin of the United States, celebrates her 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Melanie Oudin of the United States celebrates her victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Melanie Oudin of the United States celebrates her victory over Maria Sharapova of Russia at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul J. Bereswill)
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her match against Melanie Oudin of the United States during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her match against Melanie Oudin of the United States during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (Charles Krupa)
Melanie Oudin, of the United States, reacts during her match against Maria Sharapova, of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Melanie Oudin, of the United States, reacts during her match against Maria Sharapova, of Russia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (Paul J. Bereswill)
Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, returns to top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, returns to top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (Paul J. Bereswill)
Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, gets himself up after landing on the court during his match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, gets himself up after landing on the court during his match against Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New...   (Paul J. Bereswill)
Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, volleys to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.
Top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, volleys to Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, during the third round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009.   (Paul J. Bereswill)
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tennis • Maria Sharapova • US Open • US Open Tennis • Melanie Oudin

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