It was 2007 when Taylor Townsend was sitting in the nosebleeds watching Serena and Venus Williams play a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fast-forward to 2014 where Townsend earned a huge seat upgrade, not simply in the front row, but on the court, as the opponent of the No. 1 seed, Serena Williams, at the same stadium for the opening-round match of her US Open debut.

When Townsend found out about the news she didn't believe it.

"I found out on Twitter," she said. "Okay, let me double-check. It was true. So then I was just immediately really excited. I just thought that it was a huge opportunity."

Townsend turned professional at the end of the 2012 season after achieving the world No. 1-ranking as a junior, the first American girl to do so in 30 years. She made her Grand Slam debut earlier this year at Roland Garros as a wild card and advanced to the third round.

Townsend winning 2012 Australian Open girls’ singles title. Photo: Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

In lieu of the 18-year old Townsend's success, she looks up to Serena as she is one of the main reasons why Townsend is present in the tennis world.

"I mean, Serena's an African-American woman from Compton, California who won [now 18] Grand Slam titles. Like, who would have thought? Anything is possible. She's paved the way for me and not only African-American girls but girls in general, people in general, [she] just has changed the game of tennis. I think I've just learned from her story that anything is possible."

Their friendship blossomed last year at the Fed Cup in Delray Beach, Florida, when she talked to Serena and Venus Williams during a rain delay. Surprisingly they didn't talk about tennis, just casual girl-talk about hair and nails. Then later in Charleston, South Carolina, they chatted again for more than an hour and capped it off with selfies at the players' party.

Taylor Townsend’s selfie with Serena and Venus Williams

Williams was just as excited to play Townsend for the opening draw match.

"We're really good friends. We always talk and always text each other. It's going to be a really tough match for me." Serena continued,"she's such a great player. [She's] extremely young. I have been able to see her play a little bit. She does everything really, really well."

Entering the match, they both won in the nail department. Townsend wore a gel manicure with deep, hot pink polish with blue tips. Williams rocked pastel pink nail polish with crystal, pink and black leopard-prints her middle nails. But only one could win the tennis match, which was Serena 6-3, 6-1 who moved on to win her first 1st Grand Slam title of 2014.

American professional tennis player, Taylor Townsend  Photo Credit: Getty Images

Legendary American professional tennis player, Serena Williams, rocking pale pink manicure. Photo Credits: Getty Images (right) and AP (left)

Although Townsend lost the match she didn't let it get to her negatively. She was honored to face her idol and was all smiles.

"I just tried to go out on the court and really have a good time, embrace the moment, embrace the crowd and just use it. I did the best that I could."

The match helped put in perspective that she's doing all the right things - her serve can be a weapon and she can be a threat in the pro circuit with her style of play.
Serena also applauded Taylor and referred to her as the "Future of Tennis." Williams continued to speak positively of Townsend.

"She's a lefty. I always wanted to be lefty," she said smiling with envy. Why does Serena envy lefties? "That just in general puts you on a whole new level as a player. She's a very aggressive player. She comes to the net, she makes her shots. You don't really see that in tennis so much. You see players that, you know, stay aback and hug the baselines, as I do. But it's good, refreshing, and I think it's the future of tennis just by doing what she does."

Just how Townsend is inspired by Serena's story, Taylor is creating a story of her own for the current and future generations of tennis.

"I've always said that I wanted to use my tennis to inspire and help people. I want to continue [to be an inspiration and role model] as I progress in the pros and get better just because if we have these gifts and talents [and] we don't use it to help try to make a difference, then it really doesn't matter."

Taylor Townsend with kids before the 2013 New Haven Open Tennis Tournament at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Photo Credit: Bill Weiss/New Haven Open

As Townsend said, "anything is possible." It took her seven years to earn her huge seat upgrade, which she saw as unfathomable at the time.

Townsend serves as a refreshing reminder that one can achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication.

VIDEO CONVERSATION: Teddy Bridgewater, NBA FINALS, Serena and Venus Williams, Deron Williams, Anthony Mackie, and more 

The DONALD STERLING saga: SHELLY STERLING sold THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS to former MICROSOFT CEO, STEVE BALMER

The NEW YORK RANGERS playing the LOS ANGELES KINGS for the STANLEY CUP

NBA FINALS: a repeat of the MIAMI HEAT V. THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS

LANCE STEPHENSON’S antics. Immaturity or much ado about nothing? Is STEPHENSON taking zeroes off of his next check?

BROOKLYN NETS GUARD DERON WILLIAMS underwent successful ankle surgery. BIANCA PEART gives a rundown of D-WILL’S recuperation period and his expected time to return to the team. GLENN GILLIAM asks did WILLIAMS get surgery on his heart. CHRIS GRAHAM says he’ll be back before DERRICK ROSE.

SERENA, VENUS, STEPHENSON, and FEDERER are out at the FRENCH OPEN. According to GLENN GILLIAM, the FRENCH OPEN commentators treat the foreigners better than the Americans; GLENN’S also disturbed that SERENA was in and out because she didn’t bring her a game. BIANCA added that SERENA was sitting courtside at GAME 6 of the MIAMI V. INDIANA PLAY-OFF GAME.

LOOKING AT WHAT’S FLYING UNDER RADAR

Eighteen-year-old tennis sensation TAYLOR TOWNSEND beat 21st-ranked ALIZE CORNET in the FRENCH OPEN.

The 205th-ranked TOWNSEND'S feat made her the youngest U.S. woman to advance to the third round at the FRENCH OPEN since 2003 -- is even more impressive considering just two years ago, the U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION attempted to keep her out of competition at the U.S. OPEN. It was suggested they would not restore their support until the teen, then the top-ranked junior player in the world lost weight.

RAPPER 50 CENT

It looks like TAYLOR TOWNSEND has better aim than 50 CENT. The rapper was on a publicity tour and displayed his poor pitching abilities at a recent METS game. He threw the ball very wide left; 50, stay in your lane!

WHO IS IN THE DOG HOUSE?

It’s DOG HOUSE time and it seems like by the end of the segment, GLENN GILLIAM put both FLOYD MAYWEATHER and T.I. in the DOG HOUSE for MAYWEATHER’S inappropriate relationship with T.I.’S wife, TINY and for telling T.I. that he needs to check his “BITCH.” T.I. seems to be in the DOG HOUSE for seemingly boasting that he went toe-to-toe with MAYWEATHER.

WHAT’S IN THE SPORTS PIPELINE:

Actor ANTHONY MACKIE is shopping a JESSE OWENS biopic.

ANTHONY MACKIE, of CAPTAIN AMERICA fame, is shopping around a JESSE OWENS biopic with WE ARE MARSHALL writer JAMIE LINDEN, ACCORDING TO DEADLINE. The would-be movie, which MACKIE would produce and star in, focuses on the lead-up to the 1936 BERLIN OLYMPICS, where OWENS won four gold medals in the shadow of HITLER'S REGIME.

The NBA DRAFT is on Thursday, June 26, 2014

FIFA WORLD CUP starts Thursday, June 12, 2014.

NOTE: What’s The 411TV hosts' comments are their own and not necessarily the opinion of What’s The 411 Networks.

What's The 411TV captured some of the sights and sounds of the activities at the Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012 held at the US National Tennis Center.

In this video, What's The 411's Andrew Rosario spoke with the winners of the Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest.

The Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest celebrates the writing and artistic skills of young people connected to the National Junior Tennis Learning (NJTL) network founded by Arthur Ashe.

New York City Mayor David Dinkins was on hand to help celebrate the winners of the Arthur Ashe Essay and Art Contest. The winners learned a great deal about Arthur Ashe and were genuinely honored to receive their awards.

Overall, Arthur Ashe Kids Day 2012 offered something for everyone. There were opportunities to watch tennis pros practice; attend concerts with pop and R&B stars such as Carly Rae Jepsen and Mindless Behavior; tennis clinics for the little ones; and a tennis volley contest featuring Serena Williams.

Arthur Ashe was born on July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia and is remembered for his excellence as a tennis player as well as his efforts to further social causes. He remains the only African American player ever to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon, the Australian Open or the US Open. His legacy continues to have a positive effect on our society.