The U.S. Open draw is out, and five-time U.S. Open champion Serena Williams’ first round match is against an American girl who one day may challenge her unbelievable records. On Saturday, Williams said that 18-year-old Taylor Townsend is the “future of American tennis.”

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Townsend has already had a memorable year at Grand Slam events, ousting No. 20 Aliza Cornet at the French Open as a wild card entry on the day both Williams sisters lost. At Wimbledon, Townsend put up a fight in her first-round match with No. 31 Klara Koukalova but lost in straight sets.

Townsend had a breakout year in junior’s tennis in 2012, becoming the first American to be ranked the No. 1 junior in the world in 30 years.