1.9°C Sunny 
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino was left with mixed emotions after turning heads at the U.S. Open Wednesday, giving American Venus Williams all she could handle in the first set before succumbing 7-6 (3), 6-3 to the third seed.
"It's a little disappointing but also exciting," said the 19-year-old from Vancouver. "I was super excited with the way I was able to go toe-to-toe with her.
"I'm just really happy with how I've done here. It's exceeded my expectations. I guess I can say I'm proud of myself."
Williams struggled early on a steamy, windy day before reeling off the last six points of a tiebreaker against the 179th-ranked Marino.
"Seemed like every time I had an opening she would hit a big serve," Williams said of the first set. "So I guess I know what it's like now playing myself.
"I was very impressed. She's got a good future ahead of her."
Marino had a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker before Williams buckled down. The two-time U.S. Open champion responded with a cross-court backhand winner, followed by a forehand winner to get going and reach the third round at Flushing Meadows.
"To lose that was disappointing," said Marino. "She's a very experienced player.
"She definitely upped the level there."
Marino hit eights aces to Williams' four and notched 27 winners, three more than her big-name opponent. But she also made 23 unforced errors, almost double Williams' 12.
Marino was pleased when told of the compliments Williams gave her after the match.
"It's great when you hear another player compliment you like that,'' she said. "It definitely tells me I belong her.
"I would like to play high-level matches like this."
The six-foot Marino earned her first Grand Slam main draw victory Tuesday by defeating Russian Ksenia Pervak 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
The Canadian's career money earnings coming into the Open were US$78,309, compared to $27.3 million for Williams.
Marino said she was a little nervous but said she was able to remain focused during the match.
"I had no idea who was in the crowd," she said. "It was just me and the tennis ball and Venus Williams across the court.
"That doesn't happen every day."
Williams won the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001 and has never lost earlier than the fourth round.
Wednesday's match was the American's second since late June, when she was upset in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Williams pulled out of two hard-court tuneup tournaments in August after injuring her left kneecap.
Marino called her U.S. Open a positive experience.
"I got to go on the biggest stage in the tennis world and play one of the best players there is," she said.
"It can't get any better than that. And I also didn't get killed. That was pretty nice as well.''
