U. S. teen Capra looks like this year's version of Oudin

Last year Beatrice Capra watched every second of Melanie Oudin's run to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open. Oudin was a competitor, a friend, and an inspiration.

Now it's the Beatrice Capra story to be told at this U.S. Open. Oudin is gone after a second-round loss, but Capra is still here after the biggest win of her career, a 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 second-round survival test over the 18th seed, Aravane Rezai of France.

Next up for Capra, Maria Sharapova, who defeated Iveta Benesova, 6-1, 6-2, last night.

"I really look up to Melanie," said Capra, an 18-year-old they call Treecy from Ellicott City, Md. "I watched all of her matches last year, and I was just so happy for her. It was really inspiring to me because I played her a year before and then she was getting to the quarters of a Grand Slam . . . I think she's pushed all of the Americans to do better."

The crowd at Grandstand Court got behind Capra as they did Oudin last year. Capra was down 4-2 in the first set against a solidly ranked pro, and things didn't look rosy. "They were awesome today. They really got me through," Capra said. "When I was down 4-2 in the first set, I was thinking it was just going to go downhill. They really helped me and supported me. They definitely helped me today."

Capra rallied to break twice and take the first set. Then she was broken twice at the start the second set, allowing Rezai to get a toehold on the match. Capra got an early break in the third set, but gave it up. The match was now down to a test of will. Rezai's driving shots were stronger than anything Capra had faced in juniors and in a couple of pro tour qualifying events.

In the eighth game with Rezai serving, Capra had two break points and failed to convert them. After Rezai earned a game point, Capra toughed out a rally, hit a crosscourt winner and then saw Rezai double fault for the break. Now came Capra's first match point and when Rezai netted a groundstroke, the folks in Camp Capra, including mother Laurie MacGill and sister Pia, were celebrating.

"I was so happy how she handled herself today," MacGill said. "How she showed her maturity."

Three weeks ago Capra lost in the round of 16 at the junior nationals. She had planned on playing in the Open juniors, but that was it. Then she got a call from the USTA to invite her to compete in the Open wild-card playoff tournament in Florida. She won it, earning a place in the main draw.

"She was disheartened after the 18 nationals," MacGill said. "I said you don't know what's around the corner.

"She said, 'Mom, you always say you don't know what's around the corner. What if it's nothing.'

"I said, for you I'm sure there is something."

That something, first an entry into the Open, then a surprising two victories, has now amplified itself into a match with Sharapova.

"When I was younger I always looked up to her and I think it will be a good match for me to see where I am compared to that kind of level," Capra said. "I always thought she was mentally tough. She just always went for her shots and you can never tell any of her emotions.

"One of my greatest assets: I like to think I'm mentally tough, and I'll always stay in the match to the end."