'I only see this happen in motorbike accidents': Aussie qualifier's stirring comeback from devastating diagnosis
Life is good for Priscilla Hon, as the Australian qualifier marched into the second round of the US Open for the first time.
New York is the 27-year-old from Brisbane's favourite city in the world and she outgunned France's Leolia Jeanjean 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday (AEST).
A daunting clash with 17th seed Liudmila Samsonova awaits but this was time to celebrate five years after a devastating diagnosis threatened her career.
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Priscilla Hon of Australia plays a forehand shot against Leolia Jeanjean of France. Getty
Hon had been floored by an unusual labrum injury.
"I went in thinking I'll be fine in a week or something and then (the doctor) is like, 'I don't know how you have done this," she told Fox Sports.
"I only see this happen in motorbike accidents.' And I'm like, 'What is this?'. He's like, 'I don't know if you'll be able to play professional tennis and be moving like (an athlete) again.'
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Leolia Jeanjean of France reacts against Priscilla Hon of Australia. Getty
"I was crying, and I don't know if I should be saying this, but I went straight to the alcohol shop, because I'm like, 'What just happened?'. He (had said), 'If you ever do this again, you are probably done, like, you cannot play ever again.' So that was tough.
"I had a bottle of wine — like, it was 2pm and it was hot — and I just went there alone."
Hon has never reached the third round of a grand slam.
"It's unreal," she told Stan Sport's Duncan McKenzie-McHarg.
"I'm trying to not think it's first round. I feel like I've started a new tournament after qualifying. I had quite a few nerves...
"I cannot be happier right now. Like, nothing can make my mood go the other way. Obviously we play all year round and there's not many people that watch our tournaments. There's so much going on and the support is just unreal."
