Fans embrace Oudin as new Open darling

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fans embraced a new darling at the U.S. Open on Saturday, showering 17-year-old American Melanie Oudin with encouragement and affection after her three-set upset win over 2006 champion Maria Sharapova

"I thought it was fantastic," Roopram Ramharack of Long Island told Reuters in the National Tennis Center plaza where thousands of fans gathered to watch Saturday's third-round match on a giant TV screen.

"That's incredible. I think that's fantastic."

As some 23,000 fans roared inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, those that could not cram into center court watched from among the restaurants, bars and the fountains of the plaza.

"The last match like this might have been Serena," he said. "When she came, I think she was also pretty young and she made it all the way. I think it would be fantastic if this girl takes it all the way. That would be an incredible upset."

Oudin became the youngest American woman to reach the third round since Serena Williams's stunning title run in 1999.

"The crowd was totally in her corner, completely behind her," said Mayur Saxena of New York. "And that was surprising because Sharapova is normally a very sympathetic opponent. She just deserved it. She played a better match.

"There is probably no better crowd than the one in there," added Saxena who watched some of the match from inside the stadium and some out in the plaza.

"It's a little different here. Everyone was just on their feet at the end, screaming their heads off. It was awesome when she did win."

Jake Lester, a tennis coach from Durham, North Carolina, was impressed by the young American.

"I thought it was amazing. I thought the way she played was extremely consistent and she kept fighting all the time. That's what won her the match. Her level never dropped.

"She reminded me a little bit of when (American Jennifer) Capriati was coming up. She was a younger player, taking on the more established players. How she would come out fearless and ready to play, Oudin kind of reminded me of that."

"I think New York fans are phenomenal," said Tim Lo of Toronto. "It was packed, completely packed out here. But they are kind of hard on the players. Today they were pretty hard on Sharapova but Oudin is American. She's got guts."

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)