BOCA RATON, Fla. – A tennis coach in Boca Raton said he was there when Victoria Duval first picked up a tennis racket.
Duval, 17, upset Sam Stosur in the first-round of the U.S. Open.
Recommended Videos
Victoria's stunning win may have surprised some in the tennis world, but not tennis pro Jeff Bingo. He was giving a tennis lesson 10 years ago when then-7-year-old Victoria showed up and they hit some balls.
"I saw there was a passion there that this girl really wanted to play tennis and wanted to learn the correct way," said Bingo.
The correct way wasn't an easy for the Duval family. Victoria's mother and two brothers bounced around the U.S. looking for tennis instruction and struggling financially. While her father worked as a doctor in Haiti, he was pinned in the rubble of the 2010 earthquake, waiting 11 hours to be rescued.
"Obviously, we've experienced quite allot and just having the hard work pay off on such a big stage, I was just glad God gave me that opportunity," said Duval.
Bingo was glued to the television watching the match on Monday night.
"She's one of America's top, next top players. I see her breaking into the top 20 in the next two years. This wasn't just a fluke win," said Bingo.
Victoria doesn't think so either, she's got bigger dreams.
"I'm going to win all four grand slams," said Duval.
Duval originally wanted to be a ballerina. Bingo said he'll fly to New York to watch in person if Duval makes the finals, but she lost in the second round Thursday.