Cancer survivor Duval delights in role as Serena stand-in

Having battled and overcome cancer, American Vicky Duval is just happy to grab any time on court she can.

The 20-year-old Haiti-born world number 656 gratefully accepted one unlikely opportunity on Monday at the mixed team Hopman Cup in Perth when world No 1 Serena Williams was struck down with inflammation of the knee.

The Eastern Europeans won the tie after Alexandr Dolgopolov beat Jack Sock 6-4 6-2 but a beaming Duval recovered to score a rare win by teaming up with Sock to take the doubles 6-2 6-3 and said the experience had been a good one.

The American is expected to revert back to the sidelines for her country’s next tie on Tuesday night against Australia Gold with Williams’s knee expected to be up to the task.