Now in its 17th year as a partner of the US Open, American Express is continuing to offer Cardmembers, fans and tennis aficionados a new perspective to experience the exhilaration of the 2010 US Open and the players who are changing the face of the game. American Express launched a new site today, NextContenders.com, where tennis enthusiasts are invited to go behind the scenes during the Open and see what it is like for fast-rising tennis stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, Caroline Wozniacki and Melanie Oudin to train, strive and contend to be the future of the sport.

To further enhance Cardmembers’ experiences throughout the US Open (August 30 — September 12), American Express is also bringing back fan favorites Radio Live and the official US Open iPhone application, helping to deliver unparalleled access.

“We know our Cardmembers are passionate about tennis, and we are committed to bringing them closer to the sport they love with unique experiences and a fresh perspective on the game,” said Jessica Igoe, Director of Global Sponsorship Marketing, American Express. “This year, we are inviting tennis fans across the country to experience the game through the eyes of rising tennis stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, Caroline Wozniacki and Melanie Oudin with NextContenders.com and on a local level with “Fresh Courts,” a new program in partnership with the USTA that provides funding to refurbish tennis facilities in underserved communities.”

Even in defeat, it’s difficult not to like Melanie Oudin.

The 18-year-old from Marietta, Ga. lost in the first round of the Pilot Pen Tennis tournament Monday to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, and headed off to the U.S. Open to try to recapture the magic that made her the darling of American tennis last year.

Then, on America’s biggest stage, she played with confidence and enthusiasm while making very few mistakes en route to beating Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova before losing to Pilot Pen champion Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.

Monday Oudin was solid, and the match could have gone either way. She played a little too defensive though, which just didn’t put nearly enough pressure on Cibulkova. She was good, but not great. Until, that is, she went into the interview room after the match.

There, you could see this kid’s composure. You could feel her confidence and sense of perspective. She made you believe that some day she will win a Grand Slam. Some day, she will live up to everyone else’s expectations. It may even come next week.

For now, she understands that even if she is the top-ranked American women’s player behind the Williams sisters, not every tournament is going to be a magical U.S. Open run.

“Oh it was great, and it was something I will definitely remember for the rest of my life,” Oudin said. “But the thing is, everyone has only one Cinderella story and that was mine last year at the U.S. Open. But now I feel like I belong there. I took a huge leap way quicker than people normally do.”

She’s gonna be alright, because she understands. She’s a well-grounded athlete who still has a lovable amount of kid left in her. After Monday’s disappointing loss, she was smiling and upbeat. She joked about unveiling a new pair of colorful sneakers at the U.S. Open with a new inspirational word on them similar to the ones she wore last year inscribed with “Believe.”

She talked about how Saturday she was getting 10 inches of her beautiful blond hair cut off to be donated to Locks of Love to make hairpieces for sick children.

Last year, Oudin was forced to grow up quickly, perhaps too quickly, because of the pressure her own success placed upon her. She said she was as surprised as anyone, because throughout junior tennis she had always been a late bloomer.

Then all of a sudden at age 17 she works her way through the Wimbledon qualifying tournament and through to the main draw fourth round. When she followed it up with her incredible U.S. Open, everyone expected continued success would come easily.

“I happened to play my best tennis at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, two Grand Slam events,” Oudin said. “So of course, everyone is like, ‘Great year. You have had an unbelievable year.’ Well, the rest of my results were kind of like this year. They have been OK, but nothing great.”

She said that with Serena and Venus not playing in any of the U.S. Open Series events so far this summer, it has been a little overwhelming to have the hopes of American tennis placed upon her. But she is growing and finding reasons to be upbeat even on days she loses in the first round.

She was pleased with the fact that she came back to win the second set Monday and actually led, 2-1, in the third set. She played more at the net than normal and felt her service game was pretty good.

Even if everyone else is in a hurry to see her emerge as the next great American player, she is showing patience and understanding. She is content being the No. 44-ranked player in the world with both the potential and the personality to get better and some day make a more sustainable mark on the game.

“I think I am doing fine,” Oudin. “I am still the youngest player in the Top 100 and I am fine with how everything is going. I am just going to keep working hard.”

She went into last year’s U.S. Open with no expectations and came out a celebrity. Even if she can’t play the lead role in another Cinderella story this year, she is taking the same approach. She’s learned to deal with the off-court distractions and demands, and she is just going to try to be herself on the court.

“I want to go into it like I did last year,” Oudin said, “playing with no pressure and just going for it.”

Bethanie Mattek-Sands beat United States Fed Cup teammate Melanie Oudin 6-1, 6-4 Tuesday in the opening round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

Mattek-Sands won key singles and doubles matches back-to-back to lead the Americans to a 3-2 win over Russia in the Fed Cup semifinals earlier this year and she maintained that form against Oudin.

44th ranked Oudin seemed to struggle with her 2nd serves in particular during the match.

Mattek-Sands improved to 4-0 in her career against 18-year-old Oudin, who reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals in September.

Both Serena Williams (foot) and Venus Williams (knee) are currently sidelined with injury, but both expect to be fit for the US Open, and both have now committed to represent the U.S. in the Fed Cup final, hosting Italy on Nov. 6-7, 2010, in San Diego, Calif.

Also on the team will be the players that got them to the final in 2010: Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and doubles specialist Liezel Huber. It remains to be seen where Oudin, Mattek-Sands and Huber will fit in, making some tough choices for U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez, since the Williams sisters excel in singles and are undefeated in Fed Cup doubles as a team.

Oudin, Mattek-Sands and Huber have led the U.S. squad to their second consecutive final, while the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida-based Williams sisters are making their first Fed Cup appearance since 2007.

“As captain, you always want to have your best players. I am very excited that Venus and Serena have made themselves available for the Fed Cup Final in San Diego,” said Fernandez, who last year in her rookie season as captain led the U.S. to the Fed Cup final for the first time since 2003. “Teaming Venus and Serena with Melanie, who continues to play an integral role in all of our Fed Cup matches, Bethanie, who has come through in decisive matches, and Liezel, who has been crucial in our doubles, we have one of the strongest line-ups in years. I strongly believe that this team can win the Fed Cup title on our home soil.”

Russian Elena Vesnina defeated American teen sensation Melanie Oudin 6-2, 6-3 in the 1st round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open. The match lasted for an hour, and saw Vesnina convert 7 out of 7 breakpoints.

Although neither Vesnina or Oudin was seeded here, they’re both in the Sony Ericsson WTA’s Top 50. Oudin is No. 42. Vesnina is No. 49.