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Most juniors head to the USTA National championships hoping to catch the eye of a Division I coach at the school of their choice.

But when it's Billie Jean King who is impressed by your game and expresses an interest in speaking with you, well, forgive USTA Girls 18s Nationals finalist Alison Riske for being a little awestruck.

"It was just unbelievable. That whole experience out there was unreal," says the 17-year-old McMurray, Pennsylvania native of her recent encounter with the 12-time Grand Slam singles champion in California. "To meet Billie Jean King, I will obviously never forget it and to hear the things she said about me was almost 'are you serious?' It was a honor to meet her and speak to her - she's a legend."

King was quoted as saying Riske played every shot with purpose and competed well on big points, and although the high school junior may be overwhelmed by the compliments from the woman whose name graces the National Tennis Center, she shares King's view of her strengths.