New Jersey's Christina McHale Hoping To Serve Up Breakout Performance At US Open
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A young tennis pro from New Jersey is hoping this is the year she makes it big at the US Open.
Christina McHale, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, has traveled the world on the pro circuit the past five years. She says there's nothing quite like playing this year's US Open in her own backyard.
"It's my favorite time of the year," she told WCBS 880's Jim Smith. "It's my favorite tournament. So yeah, it's just nice to have my family and friends come watch me, and have the home support."
McHale attended only a year of high school before opting to finish online and focus on tennis as a teen.
"A lot of hard work, but I think at the same time, like for me, I always made sure I was still having fun and enjoying it," she said.
In her short career so far, McHale has won more than $2 million and has managed a few upsets, including over Caroline Wozniacki, then the world's best player. But McHale hasn't made it past the third round of a Grand Slam tournament, a fact she's hoping to change at Flushing Meadows.
McHale will play Petra Cetkovska of the Czech Republic on Tuesday.