TENNIS in DEPTH.

The French courts seem to have a good effect on Melanie Oudin up to now. Qualified for the Fed Cup this weekend against France, the young American didn’t waste any time on details with Pauline Parmentier and Julie Coin in Liévin. But for this first round, the surprising quarterfinalist in the last US Open wasn’t playing a Frenchwoman, but a Romanian from Team GDF SUEZ. Respectively ranked 39th and 54th in the world, Sorana Cirstea and Melanie Oudin made a rather convincing and balanced first encounter. Each one stuck with her own serve and was aggressive at the back of the court and at the net. It was a shame that these exchanges ended in opponent faults instead of winning shots. The American feels right at home with this kind of game. After losing her serve in the preceding set, she sets the counters back with a crude fault from Cirstea at the net (3-3). Oudin follows with three consecutive sets against a destabilized Romanian after only three matches in 2010. The first set went to the American (6-3, 37 minutes).

Sorana Cirstea continued to take risks in the second set. The public loved it, but her efforts don’t always pay off. Oudin stole the serve early (2-0) before laying on a second attack with a double break and a love game. (4-0, 45th minute). The Romanian has just let go 7 consecutive games. An the ordeal isn’t over. An impeccable serve, (5 aces and 70% success on her first serve), Oudin doesn’t miss a chance and buries the Romanian a little more. At 4-0 for the American, Sorana Cirstea has a chance to win her first service game in this second set. She doubly misses her chance and leaves the door open for Oudin to widen the gap. The American only gets one 5-0 ball in her racket but she doesn’t miss it. The Romanian is exhausted. She folds in two sets 6-3, 6-0 after undergoing nine games in a row at the hands of young Melanie Oudin who is really in great shape on the French courts.

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