America’s third-highest ranked WTA player Melanie Oudin reached the fourth round of a second straight Grand Slam, pulling off a comeback victory over Maria Sharapova, while world No.1 Dinara Safina finally crashed out of the US Open, having survived two close encounters in the first two rounds.

The 17-year-old Oudin, ranked 70th in the world, beat No.29 seed Maria Sharapova 3-6 6-4 7-5. The Russian hit 63 errors, and less than half as much winners, 30.

Let me remind you that in the previous round Oudin ousted fourth seed Elena Dementieva.

In the first round against world No.167 Olivia Rogowska, the top-seeded Safina lost the first-set tiebreak and rallied from a 3-0 down in the deciding set to advance. Against world No.67 Kristina Barrois in the second round Safina also lost the first set tiebreak and was trailing 2-0 in the third set. Finally, Petra Kvitova, ranked No.72, conquered the shaky world No.1 in another nail-biter, even though Safina had held three match points. Final score: 6-4 2-6 7-6(5).

As everyone knows, Safina is yet to win a Grand Slam title, but will remain on top of the rankings regardless of who wins the US Open title. (photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

World No.70 Melanie Oudin upset fourth seed Elena Dementieva 5-7 6-4 6-3 in the second round of the US Open.

The American 17-year-old had never before this week won a US Open match. Actually, her first wins at a Grand Slam came at this year's Wimbledon, when she impressively reached the fourth round.

Dementieva was one of the favorites for the title, but instead Oudin handed the Russian her joint-earliest ever exit at the US Open.

Oudin’s opponent in the third round will be either three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova or another US teenager Christina McHale.

Additional info: Melanie Oudin is sporting the one-of-a-kind adidas Barricade V’s (pictured) that she personally designed for her US Open campaign. (photo via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Jelena Jankovic, who was stunned by 17-year-old Melanie Oudin in the third round of Wimbledon, didn’t want to blame her own lack of quality for the defeat and even characterized her opponent’s game as mediocre.

From what I have seen, she can play if you let her play. But she cannot hurt you with anything. She doesn't have any weapons, from what I've seen. She's a consistent and quite solid player. She doesn't make so many mistakes. But she doesn't do anything either, so it's like she's depending kind of on you.

These statements seem especially unacceptable when you consider that Oudin made 38 winners to Jankovic's 13.

I'm a Jankovic fan but she should have shown respect for her opponent and accepted her own decline, despite the diziness that affecteed her during the match. (source: Tennis Head, photo: Life)

Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic fell in the third round of Wimbledon 2009 to American world No.124 Melanie Oudin 6-7 (8) 7-5 6-2, while her fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic made a better showing than usual and advanced to the fourth round.

The former world No.1 Jankovic lost to qualifier Oudin in three sets, but even that first set she won in a tiebreaker could have easily went into the hands of Oudin who had four set points. The second set was equally intriguing. Oudin overcame a 5-4 deficit and since then the match turned into the biggest upset of the first week of Wimbledon.

Oudin has been making her Wimbledon debut this week, and before she had a 0-2 record in Grand Slam matches. After the tournament the 17-year-old will crack the Top 100 for the first time.

Ana Ivanovic had a much more difficult opponent in her third-round match, in the form of Roland Garros semifinalist Samatha Stosur, ranked 19th in the world. The 13th-seeded Ivanovic beat Stosur 7-5 6-2 and will next face the most difficult opponent, five-time Wimbledon titlist and defending champion Venus Williams.

Ivanovic took the Australian’s serve in the first game and marched on for a 4-2 lead. Stosur then leveled at 4-4, but Ivanovic broke again and served out for the set. In the second set Ivanovic raced to a 4-0 lead, and it was clear she would advance and finally show us she can still play solidly. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)