Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Andy Roddick’s U.S. Open is over much sooner than he expected.
Coming off a close-as-could-be loss in the Wimbledon final, Roddick came to Flushing Meadows with a rebuilt game and some serious self-belief. Running into strong-serving, 6-foot-9 American John Isner in the third round proved to be too much to handle.
The 55th-ranked Isner smacked 38 aces to beat the No. 5-seeded Roddick 7-6 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (5) Saturday.
It’s the first time Isner has reached the fourth round at a Grand Slam tournament. Roddick, in contrast, won the 2003 U.S. Open and has been the runner-up at a major four times, most recently at the All England Club in July.
“It’s tough. I mean, I don’t know if I’ve come to a tournament with as much confidence ó into a Slam ó as I did with this tournament,” Roddick said. “Leaving earlier than I want to.”
His loss marked the first significant upset of Week 1 of the men’s tournament: The men seeded No. 1 through No. 16 were 38-0 before Roddick and Isner stepped on court.
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Melanie Oudin’s face was flushed from a mix of exertion and excitement and maybe even a bit of bewilderment ó “Yes, I DID beat Maria Sharapova!” running through her mind ó when she stepped out of the U.S. Open locker room and saw Mom.
The pair embraced, kissed each other on the cheek, and Leslie Oudin told her 17-year-old daughter: “I’m very proud of you.” Then they hugged some more, holding tight.
Melanie Oudin is still very much a kid from Marietta, Ga., enjoying the trip of her life in the Big Apple, playing foosball in the players’ lounge and using words like “amazing” and “cool” as she works her dizzying way through the draw at Flushing Meadows. Oudin’s latest win was the biggest so far: She knocked off three-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1 Sharapova 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.