Melanie Oudin (born September 23, 1991 in Marietta, Georgia, United States) is an American tennis player and former world junior no. 2. Her current career ranking is world no. 269, as of May 28, 2012. She won the mixed doubles title at the US Open in 2011 with fellow American Jack Sock.
Oudin is of French descent and has a twin sister, Katherine, and a younger sister, Christina. She was home schooled from seventh grade on so that she could have more time for tennis practice, but admits envying her twin sister's experiences at a regular school. She says her idol is Justine Henin because "she proved you don't have to be tall to win things." Her grandmother inspired her and her sister to play tennis when she gave them racquets and lessons when they were young.
Oudin is a defensive counterpuncher. She uses her speed and footwork to get balls back from the other side of the court. Her best shot is her forehand which she can really hit with power. Her slice backhand is basically defensive but accurate. Good dropshots and clean volleys are useful assets in her game, as well.
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova (Russian: Мария Юрьевна Шарапова [mɐˈrʲijə ˈjurʲjɪvnə ʂɐˈrapəvə] ( listen), US: /ʃɑrəˈpoʊvə/, UK: /ʃærəˈpoʊvə/; born April 19, 1987) is a Russian professional tennis player and former world no. 1. A United States resident since 1994, Sharapova has won 26 WTA singles titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles at the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open. She has also won the year-end WTA Tour Championships in 2004. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked Sharapova world no. 1 in singles on four separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on August 22, 2005, and last regained the ranking for the fourth time on May 19, 2008. As of May 28, 2012, Sharapova is ranked world no. 2. She has been in six Grand Slam finals with the final record 3–3.
Sharapova made her professional breakthrough in 2004 at age 17, when she defeated two-time defending champion and top seed Serena Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final for her first Grand Slam singles title. She entered the top 10 of the WTA Rankings with the win. Despite not winning a major in 2005, Sharapova briefly held the no. 1 ranking, and reached three Grand Slam semifinals, losing to the eventual champion each time. She won her second major at the 2006 US Open defeating then-world no. 1 Amélie Mauresmo in the semifinals and world no. 2 Justine Henin in the final.
Good gifts of love
Good gifts you hand me down
From your first touch
to my wedding gown
Do you even know
what you've given me
Do you even see
that you are wisdom
You are wisdom to me
My song, my soul
You gave so easily
I'll not forget
these gifts to me
We say goodbye
but we are not alone
Here with me still
my heart, my home
Do you even know
what you've given me
Do you even see
that you are wisdom
You are wisdom to me
My song, my soul
You gave so easily
I'll not forget
these gifts to me
I'll not forget
these gifts to me
Words And Music By Melanie Doane
Sweet morning
takes you away
Sweet nothings
we try to say
Only music fills the space
Only sadness on my face
Sweet Sorrow
Parting is such
sweet sorrow
Sweet misery
I love your company
But one day
it's you I'll send away
Only music fill the space
Only sadness on my face
Sweet sorrow
Parting is such
sweet sorrow
Parting is such
Parting is such
Parting is such
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane And David Martin
Maybe it scares you
maybe it makes you cry
Maybe it reminds you of all that you deny
To see the good
you never would
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
Walk down the street
and I turn my blind eye
Don't want to meet
the parts of myself I might find
To see the good
you never would
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
So Venus tries
to sympathize
We make her look so good
As kind is to cruel
as bitter is to sweet
This life has a rule
that the two must somehow meet
To see the good
you never would
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
Without the ugly
there is no beautiful
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane And Rick Neigher
Once upon a time
I was just a little bone
I was just a tiny little rib
and the rib cage was my home
Somedays I'd wonder how it would feel
to be my own person
to eat my own meals
I never had to make a plan
just be a little piece of a bigger man
And Adam rocked my world
I was his biggest fan
No such thing as being a girl
He had the whole world in his hands
Now that was the like
No worries no pain
Just stay in my place
and grow a little more each day
I never had to make a plan
just be a little piece of a bigger man
And Adam rocked my world
I was his biggest fan
No such thing as being a girl
He had the whole world in his hands
Then I started to wonder
What's this spell I might be under
It's time to break away
It's time to feed this hunger
Never had to take a stand
How did I think it would be
Maybe like a tv show
Half hour episodes
to solve everything and make you
absolutely happy
Absolutely happy
Now I've made you cry
Never see it coming
Always takes me by surprise
that I don't make you
absolutely happy,
Sure gonna try to make you
absolutely happy
And why should I
I'm as mixed up as the next guy
And how could I
I'm just a woman
who wants to be here by your side
Wipe those tears away
'cause they'll be here again
before we know it
Just have one thing to say
that I will never make you
absolutely happy,
I'm sure gonna try to make you
absolutely happy,
But I know I'll never make you
absolutely happy,
Still I'll try to make you
absolutely happy
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane and David Martin
Maybe I'd be happy to let it all go
Dedicate my life to making jelly molds
Learn to cook and learn to sew
I'm a Happy Homemaker
Why have I been pushing so hard
when I could be out in the backyard
Letting down my hair
letting down my guard
I'm a Happy Homemaker
Barefoot and pregnant
never looked so good
We're all dying to take our shoes off
Never what we want
it's always what we should
Ahhh, I'm a Happy Homemaker
Maybe it'll be different this time Ôround
We'll put to use the wisdom
I hope we've found
Like to lose the crap
without losing ground
I'm a Happy Homemaker
Barefoot and pregnant
never looked so good
We're all dying to take our shoes off
Gone so far the other way
We're scared to be our mothers
and we're scared of going soft
Barefoot and pregnant
never looked so good
We're all dying to take our shoes off
Never what we want
it's always what we should
Ahhh, I'm a Happy Homemaker
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane and Rick Neigher
I cry up to the man in the
moon
He's the only one can help
me now
I bought the line
that as long as I tried
I could not leave empty
handed
But I've done all I can do
and now I leave it up to you
I'm waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting, waiting for the tide
to take me
To take me away
Goodnight moon
I should be talkin' to Neptune
He's the one who will teach me patience
For whoever rules the sea
is now the ruler over me
I'm waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting, waiting for the tide
to take me
So I have proved
some things can't be moved
And here I wait
but my faith is weak,
and the water's creeping up to my chin
I am
waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting for the tide to turn
Waiting, waiting for the tide
to take me
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane And Rick Neigher
Speak of love in a warm embrace
Speak of hope in a smiling face
Speak of peace in the stars up there
Speak of faith in a silent prayer
But when I'm speaking to you
and you're speaking to me
things get complicated
When you're speaking to me
and I'm speaking to you
voices are isolated
Words just push the air around
Gotta find some common ground
in the space between us
Speak of fear that has no name
Speak of hate that seeks to blame
Speak of pain behind each wall
Speak of death that touches us all
But when I'm speaking to you
and you're speaking to me
There's so much frustration
When you're speaking to me
and I'm speaking to you
No communication
Words of fear and words of rage
Break the bars of this cage
in the space between us
But when I'm speaking to you
and you're speaking to me
things get complicated
When you're speaking to me
and I'm speaking to you
voices are isolated
Words just push the air around
Gotta find some common ground
in the space between us
Words By Steven Mayoff
Music By Melanie Doane And Creighton Doane
So dear to me
Always keep me company
Who needs to go outside
I will be your silent bride
I can't take my eyes off you
Nothing ever needs to be said
You send your message
right into my head
You fill me up when I'm alone
So soothing is your monotone
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
So maybe you're not as real
as the others
But I choose you over all my past lovers
For they have come and they have gone
but I can always turn you on
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
Words By Melanie Doane
Music By Melanie Doane and Kevin Fox
Tell me once again how you cried
the day I went away
Tell me once again how you prayed
to keep me safe and sheltered
From the winds and the ways
of a cruel world
From the sea and the sun
and the sands of time
that would keep falling through
until I came back to you
Tell me once again how you cried
Were you crying 'cause you didn't know
what would become of us
Were you so uncertain of my intentions
Looking back I can say
I shed a few tears of my own
That's why I need you to tell me
Oh...
Tell me how you knew even then
that we would have our day
Nothing from before, come between
to keep us among the lonely
Ah...
Tell me once again how you cried
Were you crying 'cause you didn't know
what would become of us
Were you so uncertain of my intentions
Looking back I can say
I shed a few tears of my own
That's why I need you to tell me
Oh...
Tell me once again how you cried
the day I went away
Tell me once again how you prayed
to keep me safe and sheltered
From the winds and the ways
of a cruel world
From the sea and the sun
and the sands of time
that would keep falling through
until I came back to you
Tell me once again
Tell me once again
Tell me once again how you cried
Words And Music By Melanie Doane
I've been sleeping under the beanstalk
And I've been dreaming of something big
I don't know how but I could swear
I'm on my way somewhere
Awake the giant, awake, awake
Hey Goliath, oh, you're no bigger
You're no bigger than me
I know I've got something inside of me
Just like I know you've got
Something inside of you
It might be hard but if we dare
We're on our way somewhere
Awake the giant, awake, awake
Hey Goliath, oh, you're no bigger
You're no bigger than me
Say the words you have swallowed
See the visions in your mind's eye
Do what you feel in your heart
Awake the giant in you
I've been waiting for a signal
For something to tell me
Everything's alright
But now I see it's up to me