When Lisa Pigato learned she would be playing her idol, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, on her WTA main draw debut, the Italian teenager needed some time to compose herself.

Talk about a baptism of fire. But even though Pigato, who had navigated qualifying to take her place in the Emilia-Romagna Open, succumbed to Williams on court, perhaps the most telling exchange occurred at the clash’s close of play.

In the immediate aftermath, Pigato asked Williams for a photograph which sparked a conversation between the two, with Serena using her post-match interview to further compliment and encourage her 17-year-old opponent.

Four-time Olympic gold medallist Williams suggested that Pigato “handled the moment well”, has a “super-bright future” and that from now on she would be “cheering for her”.

While Serena will be eying a Parisian title of her own bid during the next fortnight, so too is Pigato, who takes her place in the girls’ draw of the Roland Garros Junior Championships, which gets underway on Sunday.

There are clearly worse advocates to have in your corner, and it is those words from Serena, her newfound cheerleader, which are fuelling Pigato’s Junior Grand Slam ambitions.

“Hearing Serena, someone who has won 23 Grand Slam titles, saying such nice things about me was wonderful and it gave me so much confidence and security,” Pigato told itftennis.com.

“There was great emotion when I learned I was going to play her and it took me a while to get myself right – I grew up watching her matches on television. It was very exciting and I couldn’t wait to play.

“I knew I was facing a very difficult opponent with incredible power, but I entered the field with the aim of winning, thinking point by point. Then, of course, we know Serena is very strong. There is only one Serena.

“But it was a wonderful experience and afterwards I started by telling her that it was an honour for me to play her. She then asked how old I was and complimented me on my qualification, attitude and play in my first WTA tournament.

“Now, I’m preparing for the Roland Garros Junior Championships in the best possible way.”

Returning to Paris will have brought back some cherished memories for Pigato, who arrives as one half of the reigning girls’ doubles champions after triumphing in the French capital alongside Eleonora Alvisi in October.

Seven months ago, the Italians held their nerve, negotiating three match tiebreaks on their way to the final, before dispatching Russians Maria Bondarenko and Diana Shnaider to top the podium and lift silverware.

It was a triumphant end to a week which had not started well for Bergamo-born Pigato, who struggled with injury during a pandemic-hit 2020 campaign and had limited exposure to junior competition.

“My mood at the beginning of the week was one of the worst,” said Pigato. “It was a long time since I had participated in a junior tournament due to a broken wrist and I wanted to play but couldn’t.

“I was very sad and wanted to go home. Then I said to myself, ‘you are here, and this is your job’. I signed up for doubles with Eleonora and game by game we believed more and more. In the end, we were left with a beautiful memory.”

Since her triumphant run at Roland Garros, Pigato has featured almost exclusively in the game’s professional ranks, culminating in her appearance in Parma at the Emilia-Romagna Open as she accelerates her transition from junior tennis.

Her appearances on the ITF World Tennis Tour, especially this year, have predominantly been at $15k level, although Pigato is keen to turn up the heat and boost her world ranking, which currently stands at No. 506.

“Playing Junior Grand Slams is always a great experience, but the junior circuit is equally important in preparing for professional tennis,” added Pigato, who describes herself as a “very simple girl” off court and someone who likes going out with friends and trying new sports.

“Last year, I played a few tournaments and it took me some time to express myself better in the game but now it’s going much better.

“In the second half of the season, I hope to play more $25k and $60k tournaments and I will try to express myself as best I can and hopefully move up in the rankings.”

For now, however, the Roland Garros Junior Championships have Pigato’s full focus, and she will not be veering far from the course which has seen her attract admiring glances from the game’s elite.

“I just want to improve every day and achieve my goals,” said Pigato, who competed for Italy at the 2019 Junior Billie Jean King Cup Finals. “I take great care of myself from body to mind as I feel it’s very important to feel good on and off court.

“I prepare for matches simply by relaxing with my coach and talking quietly about things that don’t make me think too much about the match, but don’t distract me either.”

Not every player receives a ringing endorsement from someone of Serena’s stature and with her encouragement still ringing in her ears, it is not hard to imagine Pigato making another significant mark in Paris. Watch this space.