While all the big girls are out there today, you will be watching. You will probably hit some balls, work on that serve and be thinking about what went right and what went wrong.

Don’t you worry about it, little Melanie. As of today, you are the only professional tennis player at Wimbledon who has won six singles matches on the storied grass. While Jelena, Ana and Maria are aching, limping and soaking, you will be out hitting practice balls. That tells me something.

I know that you have seen it Melanie. Throughout your junior career, when your 5 foot 5 inch self had to play two matches a day, you saw those other competitors who were happy just to be there. The ones who would reach a certain level and then forget why they wanted it so much.

You were not one of those players at Wimbledon 2009. Thank you, Melanie. Your fourth round match was a little disappointing. But, Aggie Radwanska is a professional tennis player. She was unperturbed by the media glare surrounding you. She had a job to do and she did it. From Wimbledon 2009, that is the lesson you should learn.

Ms. Radwanska was not worried about losing to your little self. She focused on winning. She took that puny little serve of hers and made it hold up. Hey little Melanie, Aggie’s been around.

I watched every interview you took. I saw you on ESPN. I saw you acquit yourself beautifully, with sincerity, integrity and honesty, just like the way you play tennis. I like it. Your home schooling has gone well. As my mother would say, “proud to know you.” And, she would be!

I knew it would be difficult to get all that attention and then go out here on Monday and not be exhausted. It takes some players a lifetime to get comfortable with the interaction of media and tennis. I guess what I am saying is that you now need to learn how to be a superstar. Because, that is just what you are. And, we do not want any flash-in-the-pans here. We want the real deal. And, you are it.

If I were you, little Melanie, I would spend a little time with the Williams girls, especially Venus. Watch how she handles the media. Flawlessly, that’s how. Calm, low voice. Slow delivery. Somehow all the focus, all the poise comes through. Venus Williams knows how to handle the press and not be distracted. She knows how to deliver her message and keep the vultures at a distance.

You will need to learn that. And, yes, oh yes, work on the serve. So when we see you at the Open, you will have the media thing worked out and the serve a little crispier.

Melanie Oudin, you made Wimbledon us. We will enjoy watching Victoria fend off the likes of Serena, Venus, Dinara and Elena, but we’d rather you were still in it. Thank you for every qualifier, every point, every match. You have the heart of a lioness and champion. And, you may only lose it to my son.

By the way, he’s tall, handsome and has a good job. I’ll talk to him about your tennis career. We shall see you at the U.S. Open, where you will no longer have to qualify. Just show up with the lessons of Wimbledon under you belt and play tennis, very passionately. As long as you do that, the whole world is your oyster.

Melanie you arrived a 17-year old qualifier and you leave a tennis superstar. What more could anyone ask for? Hats off to you, Miss Oudin.

If you are like me, the Ladies event has been gorgeous. Wonderfully athletic young ladies playing a beautiful game. I marvel at their athleticism, their competitiveness and their fitness. This Wimbledon has had the best of everything. This Wimbledon has elevated women’s tennis, bringing remembrances of eras past.

Great work, ladies.

Now, get back in those whites, pull your hair together, stretch those aching legs, get ready to run, dive, turn through the ball and chase every shot down. If you are going to move on, contest every point, hold nothing back. There is today and nothing else. Be in the moment when you begin and do not see, hear, think anything else.

That is what the Williams sisters are doing. They are getting ready for week two. The Williams women know that the easy part is past. It starts on Sunday. Every player in the final 16, deserve to be there. If you slip against one of these dolls, you can book that flight.

Get in the game, get in the moment and make it to the quarters. Nothing else matters.

Safina – Mauresmo – France’s Amelie Mauresmo registered a big win over Flavia Pennetta to get this far. Amelie will have her hands full with Dinara, who is still flying under the radar and has not lost a set. Safina said this was not her favorite surface. The bookmakers agree. Safina gets past her nerves and prevails.

Wozniacki – Lisicki – What a win for Sabine Lisicki. The German took it right to French Open Champ Svetlana Kuznetsova with a 6-2, 7-5 drubbing. Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki looks good. Since losing the first set of the week, she has only lost 12 games. Wozniacki wins.

Venus – Ivanovic – A throwback match. When Ana arrived last year, she was number one. The bookmakers like Venus as a solid second choice to win the crown. Ivanovic chalked up a solid win over tough Samantha Stosur and should be more confident than at the year’s earlier Grand Slams. Ana will show up at this one, but Venus has too much of everything and a120 mph serve helps.

Radwanska – Oudin – 11th seed Radwanska is the clear favorite. If Melanie Oudin gets any sleep, it will be restless. The Georgia peach has energy. If she does not let the moment overwhelm her, this is a winnable match for Oudin. We like her chances but make no play here.

Razzano – Schiavone – Razzano wins in walkover. Zvonareva is gone. Schiavone has good win over Bartoli. Schiavone struggled early in the tourney. We like Razzano in a close one.

Vesnina – Dementieva – Elena finally does it. Vesnina outlasted little Cibulkova, but Elena is a bird of a different feather. Elena can see the semis. She comes out gunning and cruises in this one.

Azarenka – Petrova – The match of the day. Two hard hitting top players. Petrova beats tough Gisela Dulko, Sharapova’s conqueror, in three sets. Azarenka is playing as well as anyone. We like her to go all the way. She may stumble here but it will be momentary.

Hantuchova – Serena – Daniela had trouble with Laura Robson. Are you kidding? Batten the hatches. You can take this to the bank. Serena in a duck shoot and off the court in less than 90 minutes.

All top four seeds are still playing. Kuznetsova (5), Jankovic (6), Zvonareva (7) are out. Unseeded Oudin, Hantuchova, Vesnina, Schiavone and Lisicki are still kicking. Big changes in the rankings will give the U.S. Open a different look.

What a day ahead. Enjoy!

When it comes to American tennis, we are stretched pretty thin right now. American men have not won a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick captured the US Open in 2003. Thanks to Andy’s resurgence, we have re-born hope in every event, but even we do not like our betting chances.

This week, we think Andy is well positioned, well composed and ready for a serious run at Juan Martin del Porto to make the semifinals. Then, we shall see. In the meantime, he is King Andy. That is our position and we are sticking to it.

Granted he gave French strongman, 22-year-old Jeremy Chardy, a careless third set, but King Andy had everything in hand. With 21 aces in the two-hour match (6-3, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3), he was in control and had Chardy out of his game from the outset. King Andy is in the mix and ready for a run. Watch out Juan Martin! Watch out Scotsman! Our King will be coming at you.

Fortunately our ladies are more highly regarded. They deserve it. Serena and Venus have the credentials, the experience, the composure and the drive to win Grand Slams. Five time Wimbledon Queen Venus is looking good, looking and acting like royalty. The queen is a good woman.

Tall, slender, fit and moving gracefully from side to side, observers will be hard pressed to find a more likely winner. In just 78 minutes the Queen put down a possible Swiss uprising with her neat 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Voeqele. It was the Queen’s 12th straight first round Wimbledon triumph.

Our Queen may be the bookmaker’s second choice, but she looks too regal not to get a play. We think there may well be two Williams family members in the finals, so take that!

The Princess

In today’s morning matches and way back there on Court 17, something very special was happening. A Princess was born. The new 17-year-old American Princess stepped onto the court and claimed her rightful place.

As a decided underdog to pretty, fair-haired 29-year-old 26th seed, Austrian Sybille Bammer, little Melanie Oudin, who was sitting in her high school history class in Marietta Georgia three weeks ago, played to win. She played with the determination that led her to four successive junior championships last year, losing just three sets along the way. And, she played unlike a 5 foot 5 inch high school senior challenging a proven player who reached the quarters in the US Open last year and who reached the second round at Roland Garros and who has more than 100 career wins.

Melanie Oudin played like a winner. She played like her idol, Justine Henin, and she played with the quiet determination of our greatest queen, Queen Chrissy. Thank you Melanie! We knew you could do it. We have never doubted you.

At 5 foot 5 inches, players may not expect what Melanie will show them. She makes unlikely retrieves, prolongs points and smashes winning forehand drives with a slight irreverence.

What observers like about Melanie is that the 17-year-old blonde fireplug has a plan. She understands her serve will not overpower the pros so she makes no mistakes. She rarely double faults and she pressures opposing servers by making them work extra hard. If you are going to beat Melanie, bring your running shoes, because you will be on the court for a bit.

By the way, persons approaching our new Princess should pronounce her name oo-dan. As in oo-la-la! She’s a handful, our little princess. She’ll bubble you to death. Exuberant, joyful, bouncy, pretty, blonde and so very young. Off the court, Melanie is all joy. On the court, watch out. The Princess is all business.

When Melanie chose tennis, she chose it with purpose. The petite Georgian decided that if she would play, she would be good at it. That is good, as in successful, not as in also-ran.

She has been home schooled since the seventh grade. She intends to practice medicine, a noble pursuit and she intends to win big tennis matches. On June 23rd, little Melanie Oudin, official Princess of American tennis, won our hearts and the biggest match of her career. Way to go Melanie!

Now, Melanie, what will you do for us next? Will you rest on your laurels? Or, Princess, will you take it to the next level and outrun, outhustle and outgun 21-year old Muscovite, Yarolslava Shedova, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Monica Nicolescu?

Once again, you will be the shortest player on the court. You will be the youngest player on the court. You will be an underdog, but you know what? You can do it! That’s is what American Princesses do. They win unexpected matches and move on to the third round. Then, we shall see. Okay Princess? See you in two days. Nice one, baby. Nice one! You make us proud!