Melanie Oudin Out At Indian Wells

Melanie Oudin – First Round Casualty

The Cinderella Dream is on hold, at least for another two weeks. Melanie Oudin, who hoped a return to big galleries and American soil would lead her to a repeat of her performance at last year’s U.S. Open became a first round casualty at Indian Wells. Oudin did not have the fuel to stay with Italian upstart Roberta Vinci, who fought back for the 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 triumph.

Once again, Oudin’s serve was extremely vulnerable. Vinci won 5 of a possible twelve break points and captured all three in the final set. In the wake of her quarterfinal upset in Memphis, this loss was particularly bitter for America’s third ranked player.

The diminutive fireball reached the semis in Paris and had a strong Davis Cup performance, but cannot find a consistent serve to pressure opponents. And, Vinci, like most tour players, had the answers for the 75 miles per hour second serves. The Italian now moves on to play 21st seeded, two time champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Sixteen-year old American, Sloane Stephens, took the spotlight with her first-ever main-level Tour victory when she turned the tables on 67th ranked Lucie Hradecka of Czechoslovakia. Hradecak made a match of it, storming back in the second set from 2-5 deficit to earn the tiebreaker. The 7-6 (5, 7-6 (7) match took one hour 53 minutes.

Stephens is the 747th ranked tour player and next faces defending champion Vera Zvonareva, who like most of the top players drew a first round bye. Stephens had a successful year on the junior circuit last season.

Justine Henin Storms

Henin Storms

Justine Henin showed no rust on the way to a swift 6-2, 6-2 win over Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova. The match was Henin’s first at Indian Wells in four years. The popular veteran cruised to 4-0 leads in both sets before serving out.

There’s something very positive in Henin’s energy field. As usual, she will be a difficult out for anyone this time around. She has now won 11 of the last twelve matches played at the BNP Paribas Open. Henin next plays 31st seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina, a feisty competitor in her own right.

Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder made fast work of Italian Tathiana Garbin needing just fifty-five minutes to earn a 6-2, 6-1 triumph. Scnyder had five break point chances and won them all.

Russian Vera Dushevina earbned a surprisingly lopsided win over Australia’s Jalena Dokic. After losing the first set 6-0, Dokic made a run but lost the last four games in the 47 minute match.

Tour pretty girls take the court in the second round as Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova and Russia’s newest tennis darling Maria Kirilenko are ready to tee it up. Not too many upsets are on the horizon for the next round, although Ivanovic and Sharapova always make it interesting.

Tournament heavyweights Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Yanina Wickmayer will join Henin and Svetlana Kuznetsova in round two. The tournament winner is likely to come from this group.

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