It's great to see TENNIS' March cover girl, Melanie Oudin, playing some solid tennis again. Her sweet nature is evident from the cover shot, and I can assure you it didn't take much to see that side of her. I'm not a fan of the word "bubbly," but Melanie charmed the entire crew during the shoot we did last December in Athens, Ga., before her Rock n' Racquets exhibition with Serena Williams, John Isner and Sam Querrey.
I've been the photo editor at TENNIS for more than seven years now, and photo shoots with players—or anyone for that matter—can be complicated. Trying to uncover a player's personality when you're dealing with agents, handlers, sponsors and an incredibly tight schedule can be stressful for both the player and the photographer. Some players are relaxed, connect with the photographer and make the shoot seem effortless. Pete Sampras was very easy going and open to suggestions—his only request being that we play Pearl Jam. Lindsay Davenport once greeted me at the door of her home, baby in arm, and offered me a sandwich while we waited for the rest of the crew to arrive. Even though both Sampras and Davenport said they didn't like their pictures taken, we were able to see their personalities in the final shots. Other times, it hasn't been as easy.
When Melanie arrived at the hotel for the shoot, I'd been told she was feeling a bit sick, but was still in a great mood and ready to go. Our photographer Harold Daniels and his crew took to Melanie right away. She told stories and cracked jokes (mostly about Isner and Querrey), discussed pop culture, her upcoming trip to Australia and also how busy her schedule had become. The best photo shoots happen when the entire crew gels, and Melanie helped make that happen. I'm already looking forward to the next one with her. Check out the above promo ESPN taped during our cover shoot.
—David Rosenberg