There were two winners and no losers in the first match on Court 4 Friday morning on the final day of US Open qualifying.
The scoresheet will read that Allie Kiick defeated Victoria Duval, 6-3, 1-0, when Duval was forced to retire with a left thigh injury that necessitated several trainer visits and visibly hobbled her on almost every shot.
But that score doesn't tell the full story of this fairytale matchup of young, promising Americans, who have forged a bond of friendship through their similarly nightmarish last few years. Each woman has endured both knee injuries and cancer treatments.
"After what we both have been through, to both be out here playing in the last round (of qualifying) is pretty amazing," Kiick said after the match that put her into the US Open's main draw for the first time in her brief career.
"When you go through anything tragic, you never know what the future holds," said Duval, 21. "Obviously, my goal was to be in the main draw, but I can't be too upset with how hard I fought this week and how much heart I left on the court."
"I was just really disappointed that I couldn't do what I wanted to do on the court," said Duval. "We are both awesome players and fighters, and I am so happy for her and can't wait to see how she does in the main draw."
Kiick, 22, was smiling and exchanging warm embraces with friends afterward, but clearly the moment was still very much a bittersweet one.
"I wanted to win, of course, but when winning it that way, it is definitely not the way I wanted," said Kiick, who is ranked No. 633 in the world. "She is one of my closest friends, especially with everything that she has been through. It is not fun."
Related: Kiick putting cancer, injuries behind her
Before Duval walked off the court, Kiick walked over and bent down to console her friend and fellow Orlando resident.
"I just said, 'You've got to keep it together because your time will come; keep your head up and you will do amazing things,'" said Kiick, the daughter of former NFL star Jim Kiick. "It's all true. She is going to do great things."
During Duval's chemotherapy treatments in 2014 for Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Kiick visited her frequently, bringing Duval little gifts, playing cards and supporting and encouraging her from her own experience in beating melanoma in 2015.
The pair had even warmed up together prior to the match, and Kiick was suprised when she saw Duval start the match with her left thigh heavily taped.
"It was completely unexpected," said Kiick.
The injury cropped up in the third set of a hard-fought win over Yafan Wang on Thursday, according to Duval.
"I didn't feel great this morning and knew it was going to be a battle. I figured I would go out and give it a try," said Duval, who will get more medical treatment later in the day and get a full diagnosis. "I really couldn't land on the leg; it was just painful.
"To retire is never easy or fun, but I figured I had to look at the big picture and what is best for my career."
Related: Open Interview: Victoria Duval
Duval was barely able to get anything on her serve and was severely limited in moving to her backhand side. She took a trainer timeout, trailing 4-1 in the first set, leaving the court for several minutes to get treatment. Duval returned and actually pulled to 4-3, as Kiick struggled with her concentration.
"I was so focused on her that I was getting nervous and kind of backing up a bit. I could see that she was in pain," said Kiick. "I was kind of like, 'What are you doing?' It was tough."
In Kiick's last US Open qualifying appearance in 2014, she managed to play just a few games before she was forced to quit with a knee injury.
"It hasn't really sunk in yet," said Kiick. "It's amazing. To be here playing in the Open, it is everything that I could ask for.
"I did not expect to be out here. I didn't even expect to be playing tennis this soon, actually. I am honestly just going to enjoy it and everything about it. This is more than I could have asked for. "
