With the year drawing to a close and the Hong Kong Tennis Classic 2011 nearly upon us, we had a brief chat with Team Americas’ Melanie Oudin and found out what she’s looking forward to in 2011... 

HKTC: Are you looking forward to playing alongside your team Americas teammates Venus Williams and John McEnroe in Hong Kong?

MO: Yes, I'm very much looking forward to it. I know both of them pretty well and we are going to make a very good team.

HKTC: What are your goals for the 2011 season?

MO: My goals for next year are to improve my ranking and play better than I did this year.

HKTC: You went 4-1 in Fed Cup play this year. Is it important to you to play for your country?

MO: Yeah, it is very important. I’ve played already 6 Fed Cup [ties]. It is not just playing for yourself, you're playing for your team and everyone else in your country.

HKTC: After your breakthrough at the US Open in 2009, did you feel there was more pressure on you to succeed in 2010?

MO: Yes I did. There was definitely more pressure on me this year. But I think now everything is settled in, there will be less pressure on me next year.

HKTC: You said you want to improve your ranking this year - how far do you want to go?

MO: My goal is to get to the top 20 by the end of next year. I really want to keep playing better, gaining experience and winning more matches. This year hopefully I will get a chance to do that.

HKTC: You turned professional in 2008, two years ago now - do you feel more pressure or are you having more fun now?

MO: I think it's been great. I mean, I'm doing what I always wanted to do - being
a professional tennis player - so I'm pretty much realising my dream right
now.

HKTC: Are you good friends with the Williams sisters?

MO: I do know them but I don't know them that well, but they are really nice
people.

HKTC: Melanie, your first match in Hong Kong is going to be against Maria Kirilenko - what are your thoughts on that match?

MO: I've never played Maria before but I've seen her playing many times and I
know she is a great player. It is going to be a really good match.