Teenager Oudin shocks Sharapova at the U.S. Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Melanie Oudin's fairytale U.S. Open continued in spectacular fashion when the 17-year-old American ousted former champion Maria Sharapova 3-6 6-4 7-5 in a third-round match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

When Oudin ended the two-hour, 58-minute affair with a crosscourt winner she raised her weary arms and dropped her racket while the capacity crowd of 23,000 roared in delight.

"I just kept fighting as hard as I could," Oudin told the crowd after the match, fighting back tears. "I tried as hard as I could. I just can't believe it."

Sharapova, the 2006 Open winner, helped Oudin's cause by double-faulting 21 times. There were six consecutive breaks until Oudin held serve to win the match.

"I got lucky, she double-faulted a couple of times," said Oudin. "But I was putting pressure on her serve."

Oudin, who upset fourth seed Elena Dementieva in the second round, advances to play 13th seeded Russian Nadia Petrova.

(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; editing by Pritha Sarkar)