Oudin continues dream run,Federer wins

Today there are no tears because I believed that I could do it,the rapidly maturing 17-year-old said after reaching her first major quarter-final with a 1-6 7-6 6-3 victory over Nadia Petrova,her fourth straight against a Russian.

Now I know that I do belong here. This is what I want to do,and I can compete with these girls no matter who I8217;m playing. I have a chance against anyone.

Next up for Oudin will be Denmark8217;s Caroline Wozniacki who toppled sixth seed and 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 2-6 7-6 7-6 to reach her first grand slam quarter-final.

It8217;s going to be tough,especially also with the whole crowd supporting her,Wozniacki said. But I8217;m just going to go out there and enjoy.

While the wide-eyed Oudin is chock-full of emotions on every point,15-times grand slam champion Federer remains unruffled as he mows down each of his opponents.

Monday8217;s victim was 14th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo,who was sent off wondering what hit him after being on the receiving end of a 7-5 6-2 6-2 masterclass. Federer had nine aces,no double faults,and 35 winners in the fourth-round match.

He was playing so good,Robredo conceded,echoing the sentiments of all of Federer8217;s victims over the past week. When he plays like this,it8217;s tough.

On pleasant,unseasonably cool day at Flushing Meadows,the curtain came down on American men8217;s tennis. John Isner8217;s 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 loss to Fernando Verdasco of Spain marked the first time since tennis turned professional in 1968 that no American male advanced to the Open quarter-finals.

I didn8217;t really care,said Isner of his role carrying the U.S. torch. I didn8217;t really think too much of it. I wanted to keep it going.

Sweden8217;s Robin Soderling advanced when eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko retired during their match with a thigh injury. In the quarters,the French Open runner-up will face Federer,who beat him in Paris.

The 25-year-old Soderling,who beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros but is shooting blanks against Federer in 11 career matches.

We had a few very good matches and I had some good chances to actually win in a couple of them,he said. To me he8217;s the best player of all time.

If I can play well,hopefully I have a small chance.

CINDERELLA FROM GEORGIA

While the steely Federer was workmanlike in dispatching Robredo,it was Oudin who lit up Flushing Meadows once again. She is playing like Cinderella,doing everything she can do prevent the clock from striking midnight.

Her play energised the throng who chose to spend Labor Day watching America8217;s newest darling reach the final eight for the first time in a grand slam tournament.

The crowd also gave the Georgian a boost just when it looked that Petrova might end her dream run.

It8217;s really a great feeling,the 70th-ranked Oudin said of her support. Everyone stood up when I had my first match point. Just when I won the second set,a standing ovation. It8217;s crazy how many people are cheering for me and supporting me.

Oudin opened her dizzying run by defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova,then shocked fourth seed Elena Dementieva and former champion Maria Sharapova.

She insists there are no secrets on how to beat a Russian.

8216;I don8217;t think they had weaknesses,she said. Every single match has been so competitive and so close,and I8217;ve been able to pull it out in the end.

The fleet-footed Oudin scampers around the court like her idol,Belgium8217;s former world number one Justine Henin. She chased down everything Petrova threw at her.

When you do it for the first time you feel so excited and everything is so new and you have absolutely nothing to lose and you go and you do it,Petrova said of Oudin.

She8217;s on a roll,you know. She goes,enjoys it,crowd is behind her. She8217;s having a blast out there.