As a child, Melanie Oudin sat transfixed in front of the television watching Venus and Serena Williams battling at Wimbledon.
Now the vivacious teenager is living her own dream on the greatest stage in tennis after knocking out sixth seed Jelena Jankovic to take her place in the last 16 at Wimbledon.
Bubbling with enthusiasm, she said "It's unbelievable."
"The fourth round at Wimbledon, I definitely did not see that coming," added the 17-year-old after fighting through three rounds of the qualifying tournament just to get to Wimbledon.
She now faces Poland's number 11 seed Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the quarter-finals.
Under the media spotlight for the first time in her short career, Oudin was bombarded with questions about what first inspired her, who first got her to hold a racket.
Venus, Serena and Grandma," she replied.
VERY SUPPORTIVE
"When I was seven, when I started playing tennis, I saw Venus and Serena playing here and I was like, 'Mom, I really, really want to play there one day'," Oudin said.
"She said, 'Go for it'. My parents have always been very supportive," added Oudin.
Melanie and her twin sister were introduced to tennis by their grandmother.
"My grandma actually started my sister and I a long time ago, so that's pretty cool," she said.
"I started at our neighbourhood courts (Charleston Forge in Marietta, Georgia)... We played Australian doubles, my sister and I, against her. It was so much fun."
Oudin, playing in only her third grand slam event, is certainly not lacking in self-belief.
"My goal has always been since I was little to become number one in the world one day. It's gonna take a lot more work and, you know, I'm gonna have to get better and better. But I'm willing to work on it."
Venus Williams, five times a Wimbledon champion, was full of praise for the effervescent teenager, calling her "super nice. Just so enthusiastic about tennis and about life, enjoying herself. Very well adjusted."
