Above: the National Tennis Centre in Queens (Photo: NTC)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Victoria Duval was going up against a four-time major champion Monday night, but her best effort was not quite enough as the veteran Kim Clijsters, ranked 25 in the world, won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.

But for the young Haitian-American Duval, just 16 years of age, it was likely the first of many appearances in Flushing Meadows.

Duval showed mettle, particularly in the first set, but Clijsters’ experience proved to be too much in the Open’s opening round.

She had qualified for the Open as a wild card after winning the singles title at the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships earlier this month.

Duval, whose father, Jean-Maurice, a survivor of the 2010 earthquake, still lives in Haiti, even received a personalized statement of congratulations ahead of the Open from Haiti Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.

The 29-year-old Clijsters has said this will be her last US Open.