But that’s what makes the US Open so great. While Wimbledon may be the most prestigious, and Roland Garros embodies the European culture, the tournament in Flushing Meadows is definitely the personification of American Culture.

The Open is the slam of the future where stars are born and it uses an experimental atmosphere to introduce hard courts and instant replay to the game.

It’s the most raucous, as if rock-n-roll took over the tennis world. A giant Woodstock, or Rolling Stones concert paced about for the two weeks.

But really that’s what makes the US Open maybe the hardest championship to win.

Maybe that’s why Roger Federer is so tough on Arthur Ashe. And why many are picking Maria Sharapova, even though she hasn’t been the same since the shoulder injury.

“I think the lights are really good,” Federer said after winning his first match win over Bryan Dubal, 6-1 6-4 6-2.  “There are some stadiums around the world where the lights are not the same, but here it feels great.  Obviously I have the experience to play under pressure and with so many people, high expectations, so I guess I can use that to my advantage.

“Then court speed, surroundings, the event and everything helps my cause to really do well and play well here.  I always loved coming here.  Never had a bad US Open.  Never had a first‑round upset somehow.  Just shows again, you know, I was playing well tonight.  I’m happy I got to play a night session again.”

Here’s the thing New York is made for stars and thus the stars shine for these two weeks. As you know, if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.

And if you happen to be one that does succeed in New York, then a star is born. Last year Melanie Oudin was able to get to the Quarterfinals. Her follow-ups during the year were less than stellar, but then back on Ashe she shined.

“It felt so good to be out there again and hearing the crowd, and just being on Ashe again and playing.  No matter who I was playing, it feels good to be back again,” Oudin said after defeating Olga Savchuk, 6-3, 6-0. “But I was ‑‑ yes, I was definitely nervous.  My stomach felt a little bit funny in the beginning of the match.  I loosened up, and I think it got a lot better in the second set.”

And maybe she will make another run. As we have seen it just gets easier the second time around and with an open women’s field, who knows what will happen. Maybe in Oudin can salvage 2010 with a strong Open and make 2011 her year.

But that’s what makes the Open so special. Stars are born and then they shine. And maybe this year names like Mardy Fish or Coco Vanderweghe get the call.

One thing’s for certain though, it’s going to be a great two weeks.

And now, after her three set fourth round win over Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), Caroline Wozniacki is going to face Melanie Oudin in one of the more anticipated matches in this US Open.

“I think about just as a great run from both me and Melanie,” said Wozniacki, who made the Quarterfinals in a Grand Slam for the first time in her young career. “I think we’ve played some really good tennis, both of us. I think it’s going to be a great match. I don’t really think about who’s the favorite, who is not.

“I just enjoy playing on the big stadiums with such a huge crowd.”

The 19 year-old from Denmark is actually the favorite due to her No. 9 seeding in the tournament. She is the highest ranked player left after she downed the No. 6 ranked Kuznetsova.

“I feel like I’ve done some really good results this year,” said Wozniacki. “I feel like I’ve done well at the Grand Slams as well. I just lost to some players that were playing better than me that certain day.

“This time I just wanted to try to do my best again. I mean, if someone beats me, they have to play better than me, but I’m not gonna stop fighting, that’s for sure.”

And uch like the puncher she will play on Wednesday, this young up and comer had to comeback in her match against a Russian. After dropping the first set, she fought in the second.

Although she had a number of set points, Kuznetsova was able to come back to force a tiebreaker, which she eventually won after a hard back and fourth extra frame.

“I was just trying to fight for every point,” she said. “Maybe I was a little bit lucky, but that’s what tennis is all about. Sometimes you’re playing amazing and you lose a match, and sometimes you’re a little bit lucky. It’s one point that can change the whole match.”

“I think in the second set I should have played better,” Kuznetsova said. “I mean, I was playing unbelievable. I just hit too many unforced errors and I could not control my emotions. And I wanted it so much, so it was pretty hard to control.

“I was giving her some chances. What was the score in the second set? I don’t know.  First games I had chances to break her, and I was going for too much because everything was going so well.  And I give her chance to come back, to believe that she can do that.

And it did as she had the momentum in the third and even was serving for match, up 5-4, but the former Open Champion came back to force another tiebreak. Three match point and Wozniacki was able to finish her opponent with a beautiful backhand down the line, which Kuznetsova returned into the net.

“Overall I think I lost, like – a credit to her.,” Kuznetsova said. “She beat on the court, and she was putting balls back, but I lost to myself because I did so many unforced errors. These unforced errors, you cannot win against nobody. It’s no chance.

“Yeah, was fighting hard because it’s really what I want.  And I feel like I’m in great shape. Everything was not on my side, and I was doing too many unforced errors, not controlling the situation so much. But I think I played the game smart. I was trying to come to the net. I served better except the unforced errors.”

So now it’s enthusiasm vs. Sunshine as Oudin takes on another ranked player. Yet this time she’s not Russian, but another likable player, who has open surprises of her own.

“[Oudin] is a really good player, Wozniacki said. “She made it this far.  She’s been winning some amazing matches. She’s on a good winning streak. It’s going to be tough, especially also with the whole crowd supporting her. But I’m just going to go out there and enjoy.”

And maybe she can spread a little sunshine a long the way.