A dream for a distant star, Bouzkova challenges Williams: Serena is my role model!

Bouzkova during the quarterfinal match at the Rogers Cup against Simon Halep.

John E. Sokolowski, Reuters

A native of Prague was a year when my younger sister won the US Open for the first time in 1999. "Serena was my role model when I was growing up. The way I play, my technique, especially the spine, is a bit similar. I'm looking forward to a match with her, "she told reporters in Toronto. A little timidly, she still did not believe she would stay in the yard herself against the tennis legend in a few hours.

At the age of nine, her father took her to America and enrolled in the famous Nick Bollettieri Academy, which also went through Serena. Later, with his talented daughter, he went the other way, but Bouzková remained in America, studying business administration at the University of Indiana and primarily playing tennis. Father is assisted by her Spanish coach Cristian Requeni.

Marie Bouzkova during the match with Halepova.

John E. Sokolowski, Reuters

Her first success was the 2014 US Open Junior Tournament, followed by twelve wins in lower tournaments and this year's promotion to the second round at Wimbledon. He moved her to see the first cent of the world and in Toronto she flew to 53rd place. She hasn't been stopped by three players who already know how to enjoy the Grand Slam triumph – American Sloane Stephens, Jelena Ostapenko from Latvia and Simona Halep from Romania.

"With each game, my self-confidence grows and that's the key to success. Today it was probably the best set I've ever played," she said after a win over Halep, who retired after the first set due to a sore left leg. "I managed to defend many balls and at the same time was aggressive. I enjoy it more and more and I tend to play the center of the court," she praised the unexpected change.

Sierra de Bouzková match with Halep

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