Mel won. She beat Savchuk 6-3, 6-0.

I am so happy for her. It’s always tough when there’s so much pressure. She handled it pretty great and is on the 2nd round. People were expecting better results after last year’s QF but things didn’t go as well. Anyways, she definitely feels comfortable playing USO so I really hope she goes further on the last Major of the season.

More strange haps in Paris, as Elena knocked out Mel in three sets and got semi-revenge from the USO after dropping the first set in typical Lena fashion. As mentioned, she’ll take on Lucie tomorrow as her solid start to the season continues.

Really great to see Mel putting up solid results this week though. She’s done nothing since the USO, and had great wins against Sorana Banana, Patty, and Szavay and taking a set off Elena ain’t bad either. She’s seemed a bit like a fraud after knocking out JJ and the Russian slaughter in Flushing Meadows, but she’s clearly got her head and game back in control and looks poised to start making a push for the top 20, so good for. Admirable fight, that girl.

And thus the run of America’s Cinderella Sweetheart comes to an end. Caro’s consistency proved to be too much for the wee youngin’, who was driven bonkers (and to tears) by the end of the match, and her hella impressive run. Hats off to you kid, you toughed out 3 Russian headcases, and you’re only 17. There’s only one way to go from here: up. Top 20 by next year?

Quite clearly, I’m absolutely thrilled for Caro, who found herself finally getting to her first slam quarterfinal, and now has a solid chance of making the final. Also gotta give her some mad props for greeting Mel with a smile and congratulating her on a good match and a great run. For all the awe that Mel has showed this week in her postmatch “did I really just win?” interviews, Caro sure wasn’t far behind.

Just a couple things, this match perhaps is incredibly interesting because the play itself wasn’t insanely mind blowing. How can Oudin upset 3 big hitting Russians in a row, all outlasting them in 3 sets, all with top 10 ability and talent, but not crack the young counterpunching Dane? Sure, nerves probably have something to do with it, but Caro pretty well played Mel’s game and beat her with it. Perhaps its the perfect metaphor for the gap in the game right now, the big hitters vs. the counterpunchers, and who can outlast who, and how these big upsets come about.

Despite those who maybe aren’t her biggest fan, you have to give credit to Caro for playing a smart match. The thing that will get her into the top 5 is her ability to adapt to changing circumstances, which is slowly developing. For example, when Mel started upping her aggressiveness and going for winners, she was often winning, no worries for Caro. For another example, a similar thing happened in Miami against Kuz, a match that Caro lost in 3 long sets, but when Kuz upped her game, so did Caro, and started pushing the ball deeper and going for big time winners. The thing is she has the consistency to outlast lower ranked players and make it deep into tournies (especially when you have girls like Mel upsetting big names) but its going to be her ability to adapt and up her aggression and ability to hit big winners against the other big hitters, when she needs to, which will determine if she can crack the top 5.

In other news, I did see the Kim/Venus match, and holy hell, what a ride. Serena will be coming for blood and vengeance, but you would be silly not to give Kim a serious chance at this point, though she’s clearly not the favourite. Yes, the winner of that match likely takes the title, but crazier stuff has happened. I’d at least give Caro a shot against Kim, if that ends up happening. I expect bloodshed in Kim/ReRe, gonna be a hell of a match.

Once again it took 3 sets and just 2 minutes shy of 3 hours, but Melanie The Kid drops another big name Russian, this time a wild Masha, and is on to the second week of the US Open. Can this girl hit a flat and deep ball or what?  She’ll face another Russian, Nads, in the fourth round. Headcases beware.

There you have it people. Your first major upset of the tournament. I expected some serious fight from Oudin but I did NOT expect this, 57 64 63. The final set was a total breakfest minus a hold from Melanie, and up a break at 53 she had a chance to serve it out. She showed nerves of steel against a struggling JJ in Wimbledon, and it was the same story again. Up 40-0, she blew two match points, and then got her first serve in at 40-30 and took the match. Just wow. Lena was playing inconsistently but not THAT terribly, and Melanie just outlasted her, and was able to dominate on Lena’s serve. So bye bye Masha/Lena in the third round.

At 17, Oudin is definitely a player to watch, and seems like quite a nice girl. Its also nice for the Americans to have a female to focus on who’s last name isn’t Williams. A huge and well deserved win for the young American, we’ll see how she can do against Masha.