http://0rz.tw/uQqOd
18-year-old American Victoria Duval Diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Still
Qualifies at Wimbledon and Reaches Second Round
By Chris Oddo | Friday, July 4, 2014
Victoria Duval, a woman who charmed tennis fans with her warm personality and
fiery game when she upset Sam Stosur for her first career win at a Grand Slam
in 2013, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Initial diagnosis came after a biopsy was taken in England prior to Wimbledon,
and after learning of it during qualification, Duval elected to play the
Championships. She qualified for the main draw and reached the second round.
A further test in the United States confirmed the results.
"It is with a heavy heart that I will have to step away from tennis competition
for a short period after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma,” Duval
said in a statement. “I received the news after my first round of qualifying
at Wimbledon but decided to continue to compete. Being on court provided me
with much comfort. I have complete faith that God will assist me and my
family with all that we need, to achieve victory and become stronger from
this journey. I intend to put up my best fight and have a full recovery. I
picture myself healthy, stronger and competing again soon with even more
appreciation for the game I so love. I am grateful in advance to my fans and
friends for their support and positive thoughts while I will undergo my
treatment and fight this battle."
This isn’t the first challenge the Haitian-American has faced. When she was
seven she was held at gunpoint by criminals at a relative’s home in
Port-au-Prince before being freed. Four years ago, while she was training in
Atlanta, her father was severely injured in a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.
He had stayed behind to continue his medical practice after Duval’s mother had
moved the children to the United States.
An outpouring of support for the well-liked Duval has already occurred on
Twitter.