Oudin, Indian triumph at Fifth Third

By Rick Bailey - rbailey@herald-leader.com

Youth was served at the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships on Sunday.

Melanie Oudin, a 16-year-old, kept Carly Gullickson away from the net and won the women's singles title 6-4, 6-2 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Complex.

Somdev Devvarman, a recent Virginia graduate from India, didn't lose his serve and ousted Robert Kendrick 6-3, 6-3 for the men's singles crown.

Oudin, who hopes to qualify for the U.S. Open as either a pro or as a junior, outlasted her older opponent, who had been extended to three sets in three of her first four matches.

Kendrick also needed a trio of three-set victories on his way to the finals.

Oudin, the third-ranked junior in the world, knew Gullickson would approach the net.

“She comes in a lot and has a good variety of shots with a lot of slices,” Oudin said of her 21-year-old opponent. “I had to keep the ball really deep so she wouldn't come in on me.”

The strategy worked eventually.

Gullickson jumped out to a 3-1 lead on the hot stadium court. Oudin won the next three games, dropped one then captured the next two.

“I started off quickly then let her back in,” Gullickson said.

Oudin held serve for a 5-4 lead, then broke Gullickson in the 10th game.

Oudin never trailed in the second set, winning the last three games for her first championship in the Challenger Series on the USTA Pro Circuit.

“When she came to the net, I made her hustle, and she had to make an amazing volley just to win the point,” Oudin said.

“Some other girls got tight when she'd come in because she put so much pressure on them. That's what I was focusing on. Then I'd try to hit low and lobs, mix it up so she wouldn't get in a groove.”

Gullickson said her serve wasn't effective.

“It's hard to come to the net when your serve is off,” she said. “I'm just glad I made it to the finals. I had a good tournament.”

Oudin also enjoyed herself. “I was looking forward to playing here,” she said.

Oudin and Devvarman collected $7,200 each. The runners-up earned $4,240 each.

Oudin, who turned pro in February, had reached a tournament finals match once.

While the other three finalists were flying out of Lexington on Sunday night for the $100,000 Vancouver Challenger, Oudin was taking a break before the $50,000 Bronx Challenger and the U.S. Open.

“I'm going to be asking for a wild card into the U.S. Open for the pros' main draw and for the Juniors, too,” she said.

Devvarman, who was unseeded, remained unbeaten as a pro, adding the Fifth Third Challenger in his first try to a pair of Futures titles.

“This was definitely a most satisfying tournament,” Devvarman said. “It helped that it was nice and hot. I felt (Kendrick) was a little tired after (Saturday).”

Kendrick defeated top-seeded Dudi Sela in three sets in the semifinals. Xavier Malisse, Devvarman's opponent, retired with an injury in the first set.

“My main goal was to keep the points long and make (Kendrick) work hard for the points he won,” Devvarman said. “I did that pretty well in the first set.

“Also, I served really well. ... Holding serve every time certainly made it easier.”

Kendrick, the third seed, regretted not making more first serves to start the match.

“I knew I had to serve well,” Kendrick said. “(Devvarman) makes you play a ton of balls. He's one of the most frustrating guys I've p4layed in a long time. He baits you a little bit.

“If you're not serving well and attacking the ball, you're not going to beat him too many times.”