Another Seed Eliminated, An Upcoming Star Was Born

US Open '10 Update


I was thinking the other day on who will be this year's Cinderella after Melanie Oudin's amazing quarterfinal run last year. While watching Simona Halep's match against the fourth seeded Jelena Jankovic, I thought she could be the next endearing star. Unfortunately, Jankovic used her experience, battled back from 4-5 down in the third set and eventually won the match 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. She just denied the teenager a victory in her US Open debut.

Beatrice Capra Volleys by Andrew Ong

Today, an unknown American teenager Beatrice Capra, ranked 371 in the world emerges in her carriage. Smiling and autographing giant tennis balls at the end of a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 upset over the 18^th seed Aravane Rezai and moves into the third round of the US Open. She continues her dream run at a grandslam and becomes the lowest-ranked player to advance to the third round since 2002.

On paper, with Rezai's superior resume and ferocious ground strokes, this should be another lopsided battle in favor of the French woman. However, Capra has a different plan in mind. Fueled by her tenacity, she retrieved every ball she can and waited for Rezai to commit errors and eventually won the first set 7-5. Although Rezai managed to bounce back by winning the second set, 6-2, it was Capra who was more consistent in the end. Three bad errors from Rezai's racket gifted the teenager a stunning 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 victory.

"I'd have to say that was probably one of the best moments of my life," said Capra. "This whole experience has been unreal, and I'm so happy."

The next foe for Capra in the third round is the winner between Maria Sharapova and Iveta Benesova.