Recall, if you will, the 1981 Queen classic "Under Pressure," featuring David Bowie. (Got it stuck in your head now? You're welcome.) While this could very well be the theme song for any professional athlete, said pressure is assuredly felt most acutely by young people shouldering outsize expectations. Such is the case for the United States' Amy Wang, who at 16 years of age leads the women's under 18 world rankings. Entering the 2019 Serbia Junior and Cadet Open in Zrenjanin, Wang was naturally the top seed. At first, things proceeded according to plan. After a first-round bye, Wang dispatched with Russia's Ksenia Khurtsilava 4-1 in the round of 32. In the sweet 16, the 16-year-old again dismissed a Russian opponent 4-1. In this case it was Liubov Tentser whom Wang sent packing. In the quarterfinals, Wang faced yet another challenger from Russia. Wang could be forgiven for wondering if she was in a Cold War spy movie. Alas for Wang, her opponent Natalia Malinina was not as easily thwarted as one of James Bond's nameless villains. After Malinina claimed a tense first game 13-11, she secured the second game easily. Facing an 0-2 deficit, Amy Wang was certainly facing intense pressure. Champion that she is, she rallied to win the third and fourth games to tie it up. Like the first game, the pivotal fifth game went to deuce. With the pressure at its greatest, it was Malinina who secured the precious pair of points. With that momentum, Malinina cruised to close out the match, 4-2. She then cruised on through the semis to the championship match, where she lost to her compatriot and #2 seed Elizabet Abraamian. For Amy Wang, this tough loss will certainly motivate her to train even harder and fight to hold on to her #1 spot. After all, champions, like diamonds, are made under pressure.

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