(Reuters) - Having battled and overcome cancer, American Vicky Duval is just happy to grab any time on court she can.
The 20-year-old Haiti-born world number 656 gratefully accepted one unlikely opportunity on Monday at the mixed team Hopman Cup in Perth when world number one Serena Williams was struck down with inflammation of the knee.
As first reserve, Duval was delighted to fill in for her revered compatriot, even if she struggled to a 6-4 6-1 loss to world number 19 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
The Eastern Europeans won the tie after Alexandr Dolgopolov beat Jack Sock 6-4 6-2 but a beaming Duval recovered to score a rare win by teaming up with Sock to take the doubles 6-2 6-3 and said the experience had been a good one.