Redwood City Man May Face Off with Serena Williams

Think you could return a 100 mph tennis serve from three-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova? How about 13-time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams? Today, Danny Reyes, 39, is going to try to do just that.

Reyes entered the Bank of the West Great Returns Sweepstakes on Facebook, and to his surprise, was the lucky winner amongst thousands of applicants, according to Bank of the West spokesperson Lily Ruiz.

“I saw the sweepstakes on Facebook and thought… why not?” said Reyes.

Now the stage is set for the 5’6” Reyes to return a serve from one of the best female tennis players in the world. The player will be determined depending on which players advance through the rounds.

But whomever he faces, Reyes will need to come prepared, ready to bring his A-game in front of thousands of spectators and national television.

“I just don’t want to injure myself or look foolish,” Reyes said.

When asked which player he hopes to face off with after the last round at 7 p.m., he named 2011 French Open semi-finalist Marion Bartoli, for sentimentality reasons. However, he said he is also rooting for all-time tennis great Serena Williams.

Three years ago, Reyes was at the same stadium at the Bank of the West Classic qualifying rounds watching Marion Bartoli. It was there that he met his future wife, Le Tran.

He was standing at the railing, watching Bartoli practice when Tran asked him who the player was who was practicing.

After chatting, Reyes had to leave, but not without asking Tran to a mixed doubles match. And at today’s three-year anniversary of meeting, Tran will be cheering on Reyes from the stands.

So if the final score between the tennis pro and Reyes is 15-love, it wouldn’t be far from the truth.