Britton enjoys in loss to Tennis Star Federer

When virtual tennis comes to life, it turns into something like Devin Britton's major tournament debut against nonpareil Roger Federer Monday as the U.S. Open commenced its two-week run in Flushing Meadows.

Roger Federer

Britton was the lowest-ranked player in the tournament - No. 1,370 in the world - an 18-year-old wild-card entry invited to test himself against the sport's best. It made more sense as some interactive video game than a first-round match in the Grand Slam event Federer has won the last five years.

Roger Federer photo

Federer won, 6-1, 6-3, 7-5, a semi-crushing. But Britton, forced to try running before he walked, acquitted himself well, ultimately drawing encouragement from the experience. Not to mention a few rousing ovations from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd interested in seeing a fourth set.

Roger Federer crazy

Britton hoped "to make it interesting for a little while, at least, "which I thought - I got up a break a couple of times and that was fun for the little while it lasted . . . I mean, he obviously looks good on TV, but playing against it was even tougher, you know, and also scary. I was pretty scared.

Roger Federer smart

A native of Brandon, Miss., who took up tennis at 5 and followed the well-traveled road to professionalism through the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, Britton won the NCAA title for Ole Miss this year, the youngest male ever, and only third freshman - after John McEnroe at Stanford in 1977 and Cecil Mamitt at UCLA in 1996 - to do so.

Roger Federer smile