Perth, September 26: Emerging teenager Melanie Oudin will lead the United States challenge at the 2010 Hopman Cup.
Tournament organisers announced here late on Friday that Oudin and world number 41 John Isner, both of whom recorded huge upsets at this year’s US Open, would attempt to snare America’s sixth win in the unique mixed teams event.
Oudin, 18, is ranked 43rd in the world after her giant-killing run at Flushing Meadows, beating top 10 player and Hopman Cup rival Elena Demetieva, as well as former world number one Maria Sharapova, on her way to the quarter-finals.
The winner of three singles titles, she also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.
The 2.06 metre-tall (six-foot-nine) Isner used his big serve to upset Andy Roddick at the US Open en route to the fourth round, where he was beaten by Swiss champion Roger Federer.
Australian pair Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur, and Russian duo Igor Andreev and Dementieva had already been confirmed for the event, which runs from January 2-9.
—Agencies