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Melanie Oudin in practice Tuesday.
© USTA
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Saturday, November 7, 2009
Hi again!
This morning I was feeling good. I went to the courts, I practiced pretty well and then Alexa went out for her match. It was pretty exciting, the crowd was definitely cheering for Italy. I’m sure it was hard for Alexa starting off and playing the first match but she could just totally go for it, which was good.
It was good cheering again and being part of the team. Alexa played hard, did the best she could and Pennetta played a really good match. Alexa ended up losing 6-3, 6-1 and then I was ready to go on. Going into the match being down 0-1 was kind of hard because you know if you lose you are down 0-2 at the end of the day but if you win, you make it 1-1, which we have been in the two previous Fed Cups this year.
I was up 4-2 and then it started raining. In rain delays anything can happen. I had the momentum going completely when the rain came so I thought for sure Schiavone was going to try to change something and come up with something better when she came out so I had to make sure I was ready. I went out after the delay, which was about two hours, I start playing again and I don’t think I was playing as well. But it is hard to keep that momentum when it is off for two hours and your opponent comes back and is playing 100 times better.
It was really close at the end of the first set; we were neck and neck the whole time. Finally I ended up losing a tiebreaker. I was two points away from winning the set, she was two points away. It was so close so anything could have happened. I lost the tiebreaker, she hit some lines, got pretty lucky here and there. Some shots were not going my way today that is for sure.
In the second set, she got the crowd and she kind of ran away with it. She started getting confident, going for bigger serves and bigger shots and everything started working for her. The court was very wet, so it helped her game and definitely did not favor me at all. I was definitely a little upset afterwards. It is harder losing in a Fed Cup match then losing on your own. I am playing for not just me, especially not me. I am playing for my team and for the United States. It is hard to lose, I feel like I let everyone down. But I have tomorrow and I am going to go out there like today is totally forgotten and like it is a new day and 0-0 in Fed Cup. Hopefully it will be a lot better.
I have never played Pennetta but she is a really good player. Alexa and I were talking and Alexa definitely had her chances in the match today. Alexa was in every point, she was in that match. I think I have a really good chance for tomorrow, I just need to play my game and hopefully I can pull out a win.
Tonight we played Pictionary instead of charades. Both of them are really fun but in Pictionary you get to see everyone’s drawing skills. Tonight drawing everyone did pretty well but it is funny to see everyone try to draw because if you are not very good at drawing it is actually funnier. It was really fun, we had a good time, it cheered everybody up and everyone is going to be geared up for tomorrow!
GO USA!!
Melanie
Thursday, November 5, 2009 Hey everyone,
Finally, today is the most beautiful day we have had here. I woke up and the sun was shining and she ocean was glistening outside my window. The typical weather that every tennis player looks for when they wake up in the morning. I went to breakfast and ate with the team and then we went over to the courts for practice. I did two on ones with Vania and Adam which was really good practice and then I played Vania some games. We did not have too long to practice before we had to go to the pre-draw ceremony. Everyone from the ITF was there and a lot of media people. When we got there, I was going to be given the Heart award for Fed Cup. It is an award that is given out to the player who has best represented their team in the Fed Cup this year and has carried themselves very well. Also, someone who has showed the most heart and fight. I was so excited when I was given the award and was able to donate five thousand dollars to the charity of my choice. I chose the Children's Hospital at Egleston because it is very close to my heart as they helped save my little sister's life years ago. We also had lots of pictures and interviews too. Somehow I get asked all the hard questions, but I think maybe they just like to pick on the small one. haha!
After the pre-draw was over, we went back to the hotel to eat and sure enough as soon as we were finished we went right back to the courts. It has been practice practice and more practice this week, so there is no doubt that our team will be ready for Saturday. Let's just say my coach will be happy about that for sure. For this practice I just hit with Adam and worked on some things that I felt like I needed to work on for this weekend. I hit really well and feel confident going into my matches.
When we got back to the hotel from our second practice, we all went to take showers and get ready to go to dinner. Tonight was a treat because this was the first night we got to get out of the hotel and go out to eat at a pizzeria. It was so good and everyone ate a lot of food. We definitely took advantage of our one night out on the town. I am super tired again tonight so I think I am going to go to sleep. I will talk to you all tomorrow. Only one more day before we bring it on the red clay! Cannot wait to let you know how tomorrow goes when we find out the real draw. Keep pulling for us and getting ready to cheer GOOOO TEAM USA!!!! Goodnight everybody!
Melanie
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 It's me again!
Today was a very good, but long day to start out with. When we got over to the courts and were about to start hitting, it started raining. We had to wait about an hour before it cleared up and we could practice. I practiced with Alexa and Liezel this morning and did two on ones. It was a really good practice because when I am at the baseline and the No. 1 doubles player in the world is at the net, you can only imagine how much running I was doing. After we practiced some with Liezel, I played some singles against Alexa and also did some drills. It was a three hour practice so by then everyone was starving.
When we got back to the hotel, the team went to lunch. The food here is pretty good - it is just the same stuff over and over again - but I'm not complaining. After we ate we went to get our dresses fitted for the official dinner which is now on Sunday night after the matches instead of on Friday night. I really hope we win because then the official dinner is going to be a lot more fun! :)
We didn't have much time before we had to leave for our next practice which was at five. It had turned into a beautiful day which was nice, with a clear blue sky. The only thing bad about this town is that it gets dark at about 5 pm so we hit under the lights tonight. I did some two on ones with Trice and Nicole, but we were all tired so I went back a little early while Liezel and Vania played some doubles with Alexa and Adam.
After I got back to the hotel, I took a quick shower and then got Jen to work on my neck a little because it was super tight from so many hours on the plane. I could have gotten a massage but I didn't think that was such a good idea after my first experience here which did not go so well. (You had to be there) The team had gotten back pretty soon after I was done and we all ate dinner again at the hotel and yes, the same food. Tonight we played charades though which was so much fun! Everyone is always laughing and we are so competitive with each other that in charades it is not even like we are all on the USA team! Haha. My team won tonight but don't tell MJ that I said that or Liezel because they are very competitive. I cannot wait for charades tomorrow night! It is getting late so I better go to bed and get ready for another long practice tomorrow. Talk to you all then and remember GOOO USA!!!
Melanie
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 Hey again,
Remember how I was looking forward to the amazing view this morning? Well it was raining and pretty dark out there. I still got to see the beautiful Mediterranean and the tip of Sicily just across the water. That is pretty cool if you ask me. Well, to start our day the whole team went to breakfast and one of the best things about Fed cup is that we always do everything as a team. Eating meals is one of my favorite things because we all sit together and talk and possibly play charades which is the most fun thing to play with everyone. We had more time then we thought because it was still very wet over at the site where we are playing so we did not leave the hotel until a little later than scheduled.
When we got to the site, there was a camera crew filming us as we walked in. We checked out the court and it looked very nice. I do not get to see red clay very often so to me it is so much fun getting to play on it. We then practice for about an hour and a half. I did some two on one's with Nicole and Vania. After, when lost center court, we went to another court where Alexa and Trice were practicing. Everyone looked pretty good which is a very nice sign so far. Then, we played some doubles points which was fun because I do not get to play doubles as often as I would like to.
After practice was over, we came back to the hotel to change really quick and it had started to rain again. It became really windy and cold and was just miserable outside. We all went to eat and guess who was at lunch? Liezel and her husband Tony! Liezel brings so much heart and spunk to our team every time, so I was so excited that she made it alright.
When we finished lunch, we went back to the courts because it had stopped raining. I hit with Nicole and worked on a few things and then we played a set. It was good getting to start playing some singles points already on the red clay because movement on this is everything. I thought I hit pretty well and we had a good practice. On our way back to the hotel we saw the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It was full, from end to end. Although it was so pretty, as soon as you got back it started to monsoon outside. That did not make the rainbow as exciting.
I got a massage right when we got back after taking a quick shower and then went to dinner. It was a very long day and I am exhausted now. We stay very busy at fed cup which is a good thing, just makes you really tired at the end of the day. I am going to sleep now so I will talk to you tomorrow. I know you are all getting ready to cheer this weekend as am I, so GO USA!!!
Melanie
Monday, November 2, 2009Hey everyone!
I finally made it here! It was a very long travel day with three connections on my way to Reggio Calabria. I could not see much cause it was already dark when I got here, but we are staying right by the water so my view in the morning should be amazing. I am definitely looking forward to it.
When I arrived, Walt was there to pick me up. (He's my favorite security guy by the way.) The hotel is really nice and when I went down to get something to eat, most of the team was down there. Seeing everyone brings so many memories from out last two fed cups, so I cannot wait to see what is in store for us this time! I am so excited to be on the team again and I am sure it will be as fun as our other Fed cup ties. I will keep you updated everyday letting you know how everything is going and how the USA is getting pumped for this weekend.
I am off to bed now so I can get up early and be ready for some tough practice on the red clay tomorrow. Talk to you then!
Melanie