FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Melanie Oudin spoke to the press corps following her 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 triumph over Nadia Petrova – her third straight win over a Russian in which she fought back from a one-set deficit.
A sampling:
ON HOW SHE’S ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SHE’S ACCOMPLISHED…
“It’s kind of hard to explain how I’ve done it. Like today, there are no tears because I believed that I could do it…Now I know that I do belong here. This is what I want to do, and I can compete with these girls no matter who I’m playing. I have a chance against anyone…Mentally, I’m staying in there with them the whole time, and I’m not giving up at all. So they’re going to have to — if they’re going to beat me, they’re going to beat me, because I’m not going to go anywhere.”
ON HER HABIT OF LOSING THE FIRST SET, THEN COMING BACK TO WIN…
“I don’t actually mean to lose the first set. I sometimes just start off slowly, I guess. Maybe I’m a little nervous and all this stuff. But today my timing just wasn’t there in the first. My mindset going into the second was different. I totally forgot about the first. I was like, ‘All right. This is a new set. I’m going to start differently and forget about the first one and just start off like it’s a new match,’ and I started playing better.” I’ve been in that situation many times of losing the first set and being able to come back and win. Because I do well with forgetting about the first one and starting over like it’s a totally new match.”
ON HAVING THE NEW YORK CROWD BEHIND HER…
“It’s really a great feeling…Everyone stood up when I had my first match point. Just when I won the second set, a standing ovation. I mean, it’s crazy how many people are cheering for me and supporting me.”
ON WHAT A LITTLE MELANIE OUDIN, WHO USED TO HIT TENNIS BALLS AGAINST HER GARAGE DOOR, WOULD THINK OF HER NEWFOUND SUCCESS…
“She would be so excited, because this is my dream forever. I’ve worked so hard for this, and it’s finally happening. I’m in my first quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. It’s amazing.”
ON ALL THE ATTENTION THAT HAS COME WITH HER RESULTS IN NEW YORK…
“It’s been good. It’s definitely different. I’m getting used to it, but I think it’s nice, people are cheering for me. I have some new fans.”
ON HER LAST NAME…
“It’s French background. My great grandfather is French. Sometimes they [pronounce] it wrong, but I don’t try to tell them anymore.”
ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE’D LIKE TO FACE ANOTHER RUSSIAN [SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA] IN THE NEXT ROUND…
“I don’t really care who I get. I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals. I know it’s going to be a tough match no matter who I play.”
ON HER EXPECTATIONS COMING INTO THE USO…
“I just wanted to play well and fight hard. I had a really disappointing loss last year [a first-round defeat at the hands of Jessica Moore], so I wanted to do better this year. Now I’m just going to keep playing my same game and keep fighting. It hasn’t really changed since then. I’m just going to keep playing.”
ON DOING CHORES (INCLUDING LAYING SOD) AT HER HOME CLUB BACK IN GEORGIA – THE RACQUET CLUB OF THE SOUTH…
“I’m used to doing all that. That’s not going to change. I’m still the same person in [my coach’s] eyes no matter what. So I’m still going to be placing sod on the ground when I get back home probably…I’ve always been like this. So just because all of this is happening, it’s not like I’m going to change the person. I just love to play tennis and I’m doing well and I’m winning. That’s the only thing that’s changing.”
ON BELIEVING – LIKE HER ADIDAS SHOES SAY…
“Going into the tournament, I did believe that I could compete with these girls, but it was just figuring out a way to win in these tough matches and these pressure situations actually coming through and winning. So now, even if I get a set down, I still believe in myself and my game. I know that if I fight as hard as I can, do the best I can, hopefully I can do it.
ON HER ROLE MODEL – JUSTINE HENIN…
“I love the way she plays. She’s so quick on the court. She just uses her variety to the best she can.”
ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE’S TRIED HENIN’S ONE-HANDED BACKHAND…
“No.”
