What do you get when you take a childlike innocence, add natural ability to it, toss in a strong work ethic, and then include a tragic story and goofy glasses?

 

The next big tennis star.

 

Her name is Victoria Duval, and she is a 17-year-old American qualifier currently ranked No 296 and playing in only her second Grand Slam tournament.

 

What did she do?

 

Beat the 2011 champion Sam Stosur 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday. Hopefully this isn't just a freak occurrence but the start of a legacy.

 

Duval has the perfect components to make the world fall in love with her.

 

She's endured an incredibly intense childhood. Like the tragedy of her father's devastating injuries in an earthquake in Haiti. Like being held at gunpoint by a Haitian kidnap gang. Then there's the fact that tennis wasn't her thing. Victoria liked ballet but was urged to play instead of sitting on her Mom's lap. When she won matches, Victoria had to make a choice.

 

And it seems like she made the right one.

 

Her rise began with Victoria's desire to beat her bothers in the sport that motivated her. Now, she is beating past U.S. Open Champs. Not to shabby for a seventeen year old. 

 

What's next for Duval? Big things. 

 

Rapper Lil’ Wayne and New York Knicks forward Amaré Stoudemire tweeted congratulations to Duval after her big win. However, Duval isn’t even on Twitter.

 

Why not?

Duval responded, “Because I’m not famous.”

 

We can all be sure that's about to change.