NEW YORK, NY September 08, 2009 —A local girl is looking to make good once again at the U.S. Open Junior Championships. Gail Brodsky toughed out a 7-5, 7-5 win against Veronica Royg and is on to the second round. The 18-year-old from Coney Island was the girls champion in 2007 and a finalist last year. Brodsky says playing "at home" is special.

BRODSKY: I heard a couple people yell, go Brooklyn! Not Brodsky, Go Brooklyn!

Brodsky also entered the women's field at the U.S. Open but lost in the first round. She admires fellow American teen Melanie Oudin for making it to the Quarterfinals.

BRODSKY: She just shows that this isn't impossible, that we're not just working every single day for nothing. She doesn't know it but she's really pushing us forward.

For Brodsky "forward" now means living and training in Florida. And she's staying in a Manhattan hotel for the Open, instead of with her family in Brooklyn. Brodsky hints it's easier to get to Flushing Meadows that way.