Miami-Born Tennis Teen With Inspiring Story Beats Former US Open Champ
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-born unranked tennis player Victoria Duval defeated former US Open Champion Samantha Stosur, ranked number 11 in the world, in a major upset—for Stosur—at the 2013 US Open.
"I just tried to stay in the moment...I don't know. I'm really excited right now," Duval said.
The rising tennis star who is only 17-years-old was born in Miami, but raised in Haiti.
At the age of seven, Duval was held hostage during a violent robbery at a relative's home.
After the robbery Victoria moved back to the US, but her father stayed behind.
In 2010 her father Jean-Maurice, after the catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti, was buried beneath rubble for days.
But Duval's father survived. Duval's father cheered with pride for his daughter from the stands of the tennis match.
For 17-year-old Duval, it seems as though her experiences as a child, coupled with what her father's, have made her wise beyond her years.
"Missing a shot isn't as bad as it may seem because there are just bigger things in life and I'm just taking and appreciating every moment," said Duval.
As for her major tennis moments, she'll relish in her big win later. For now, she remains focused on her faith.
"I'm gonna try and forget about the first round. There's going to be a lot of expectations. I'm going to embrace the pressure and try and move on."
