FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y. — Inside Tennis sat down with Melanie Oudin’s coach, Brian De Villiers, just moments before the 17-year-old Georgian’s quarterfinal matchup with Caroline Wozniacki.
INSIDE TENNIS: What kind of person is Melanie Oudin?
BRIAN DE VILLIERS: I think she’s a class act all around. She loves the game. She’s considerate of other people. She’s respectful of other people. She’s respectful of the game. She loves to play. She’s having the time of her life. She’s got the crowd behind her. She’s just being a young kid playing tennis, doing what she loves and having a great time.
IT: What’s been the best moment of the summer? The Wins over Jankovic at Wimbledon? Sharapova here?
BD: All of them. Qualifying at Wimbledon. Actually winning rounds there for the first time at a Slam. Coming here with what I felt was a lot of pressure. But she’s performed really well and has settled down and has had the time of her life.”
IT: What’s her singles best weapon?
BD: Her mind.
IT: Where could she improve?
BD: The serve.
IT: How would you grade her work ethic?
BD: Eleven out of ten.
IT: Speed?
BD: Nine out of ten.
IT: Because…
BD: I’d like to see that first step get a little quicker.
IT: Her defense.
BD: Pretty good.
IT: What’s her favorite diversion off the court?
BD: Ice cream and cards. And movies.
IT: What does the future hold for Melanie?
BD: I’m hoping we can achieve every goal that we set. The next goal is top 50. Then top 40, top 30. Win some WTA tournaments and, ultimately, try to win a Grand Slam.
IT: There is a real newness, a star-is-born quality about here. This country seems to embrace her.
BD: That’s the weird thing – they’re talking about the newness of her star. The funny thing is, for me, I’ve always thought she was a star. I’m surprised no one has ever written well about her. No one’s ever thought anything of her. All the tennis writers, all the hierarchy, over the years they’ve always said she’s too small, doesn’t have a serve, doesn’t do this, doesn’t do that. I always thought, “She’s going to do fine.”
IT: She’s handled all the attention so well.
BD: When they talk about a champion being born or bred, I think the mindset is within her. We’ve all helped it a little bit here and there, but than innate quality that’s inside enables you to perform like this. Like I’ve tried to tell her, it doesn’t matter how many times I tell you this or show you this, you have to experience it yourself on the court. I can tell you a million times how to feel when you’re serving for the match, but it means nothing until you’re out there experiencing it yourself and you learn to control your fears. That’s something that can be coached to a certain degree, but at the end of the day, how many people have served for a final or done something like that at a Grand Slam. It’s something she’s experiencing herself. She’s savoring the moment and really enjoying it. That’s what’s given her the confidence and the experience. No coach can tell you how to feel it.
