Oudin Looks for Answers in NYC

East Cobb tennis sensation Melanie Oudin has moved her training base to New York City as she tries to recapture the magic of the summer of 2009.

Oudin, now 20, is 2½ years past her run as a 17-year-old to the U.S. Open quarterfinals, which fueled a rise to 31st in the world rankings in April 2010.

She , falling to 304th in the rankings, although she did in September.

Oudin did win two qualifying matches in Charleston, SC, to reach the main draw of this week’s clay-court Family Circle Cup. She then lost the opening-round match to the tournament’s 10th seed, world No. 27 Anabel Medina Garrigues, but took a set in the 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 loss, Bettor.com reported.

“At least it was a good step knowing that I’m competing with top 30 again, and I’m trying to get back up there,” Oudin told The New York Times in a feature article Wednesday about her efforts to play her way back toward the top.

Four weeks ago Oudin shifted her training from Boca Raton, FL, to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the U.S. Open, in Flushing, NY, the Times said.

Oudin said she’s not focused on wins and losses this year, the Times reported. “It’s more of just playing the way I know how to play, and trying to improve again, like I did before.”