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Loss on Court Brings A Net Gain for Oudin
WIMBLEDON, England, June 29 -- For many, 17 is an age riddled with self-doubt. But if such emotions have weighed on Melanie Oudin, they are vanquished now. A 17-year-old Wimbledon qualifier from Marietta, Ga., Oudin left the All England club in defeat Monday. But she carried with her something as valuable as a trophy: the sense of belonging in a world populated by heroes. She found this truth over the last two weeks on the club's manicured lawns -- first fending off two match points during qualifying to earn a spot in Wimbledon's 128-player main draw; then toppling Jelena Jankovic, the first top-10 player she had ever faced; and, on Monday, finding affirmation, even in a loss to 11th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
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By Bill "The Commish" Oakes When Larry Scott announced he was leaving the WTA Tour to become the commissioner of the PAC10, he told the WTA he would remain in a non executive Management role but they had to make decision within 24 hours. I am not sure that is what the PAC 10 signed up for, but guess what? the WTA Tour Board said no to him, not only once but each of three times he made the offer. 2008 NCAA Champion Amanda McDowell was not given a wild card into the Main Draw of the US Open, which is the usual situation for the NCAA Champ when the champ is an American. This created a number of complaints on how the Georgia Tech was hosed by the USTA, and I think she was hosed. So this year, hopefully my friends in New York will get her a wild card. 13 years ago, Andy and Jamie Murray hid under the headmasters desk, while a gunman killed 16 of his classmates and a teacher in Dunblane Scotland. Andy has recently discussed how he knew the killer, when the killer had been a passenger in his mothers car just before the shooting. It is amazing to think how close the future of british tennis was to this horrible act. The Indian Wells tournament has been a struggle to keep in the states over the last few years.. Well late last year a group from the Middle East offered the majority owners $75 million for the event, and there was a major concern they would take and the tournament would leave the US. Well thankfully they turned it down, but the rumor is that if they up the offer to $100 million, we may be out another event in the US. Bill Oakes co-hosts “Matchpoint Radio” on 680thefan each Saturday at 8am.
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