melanie oudin

melanie oudin

Teenage rising star Melanie Oudin stunned Jelena Jankovic with a brilliant fightback to knock the sixth seed out of Wimbledon.

Jankovic, who battled in vain against heat exhaustion, had been bidding to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for the fourth year in a row but Oudin, ranked 124 in the world, refused to be denied in a fascinating seesaw contest which she finally won 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.

Jankovic, her first serve constantly deserting her, wa

s fortunate to land the opening set after Loudin fought back from 5-3 down, only to lose a thrilling tiebreak 10-8.

Jankovic called for a medical timeout at the end of the first set and was wrapped in icepacks on her neck and legs while a doctor and a physiotherapist checked her condition.

In an equally intriguing second set, Oudin levelled the match with a dogged display of determination. Outfoxing Jankovic in many interminable baseline rallies, the American then took the decider comfortably for a shock victory.

Oudin, a 17-year-old from the state of Georgia in the United States, came through qualifying to reach the main draw but is now heading for the last 16 and making a name for herself. She will now face the winner of Agnieszka Radwanska and Na Li.