Duval rocks the Open
Victoria Duval, 17, of Delray Beach stunned the tennis world earlier this week by knocking off 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in the first round of the U.S. Open.
Duval pulled off the stunner of the tournament by knocking off the 11th seed from Australia 5-7, 6-4, 6.4. Duval showed a veteran’s poise in defeating Stosur on center court before a large crowd.
The magic didn’t last as Duval fell 6-2, 6-3 to Daniela Hantuchova in the second round.
Still, it was an auspicious debut for Duval who showed impressive court speed and steely nerves in her first Open. Ranked 296th in the world, Duval was playing in just her second major tournament.
Her debut caught the attention of national media including a feature on CBS News that recounted her rough road to the Open. https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57600705/victoria-duvals-tough-road-to-u.s-open-helps-her-thrive/
Born in Miami but raised in Haiti, Duval was held hostage at gunpoint as a 7 year-old during an incident at a relative’s house.
When Haiti was struck by a catastrophic earthquake in 2010, her father, a doctor, was trapped under rubble and suffered devastating injuries. He is doing better now, but the road to recovery was long and emotional.
Duval was lackluster in her second round defeat. She told the Associated Press she just couldn’t get it going during her second round match.
Still. her Open performance will be remembered by an American public anxious for a new generation of American tennis talent.
Duval’s charismatic personality and sense of humor coupled with a promising game may signal a bright future.
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