Melanie Oudin is in action tonight at the Texas Tennis Open against the sturdy German Angelique Kerber.
You may remember Oudin as the teenage American starlet who captured the hearts of the New York crowds during her stunning run to the US Open quarter-finals in 2009. Two years on and Oudin (still just 19) is finding her rise to the top of the game isn't going to be the formality it once seemed.
After peaking at 31 in the world early last year, she's now ranked 120 and broke a seven match losing streak when lucky loser Akgul Amanmuradova retired trailing 7-6, 1-0 in their first round match.
Oudin will be hoping that it is the start of a revival but given the way she's played over the past month she's more likely to be cannon fodder for the feisty Kerber, a doughty competitor who is rock solid from the back of the court and gives nothing away.
Prediction: Kerber in two
