Two LI youngsters selected to sing at U.S. Open

Two Long Island youngsters are among 15 children selected to sing at the U.S. Open scheduled to begin later this month in Flushing.

Frenie Acoba, of Kings Park, has been practicing twice a day since June and the soon-to-be fourth grader from R.J.O. Intermediate School said she is ready to take her solo act before a big crowd.

"I am so excited," said Frenie, 8. "This would be my first time at the U.S. Open."

Frenie and Brooke Demetri, 11, of Glen Head, were among 258 youngsters who auditioned for one of the coveted spots.

The children, all younger than 12 years old, came from nearby states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania and from as far away as Maryland and Florida to audition at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, according to a news release from the United States Tennis Association.

A panel of celebrity judges - which included Justin Chon, who plays Eric Yorkie in the popular "Twilight" series, and Ashley Roberts of the Pussycat Dolls - chose the winners.

At the June 15 audition, Frenie wowed the judges with her rendition of "America the Beautiful," which she will belt out on Sept. 2 in front of thousands of spectators.

Frenie said she wants to be a professional singer when she grows up, like Whitney Houston, one of her idols.

"I am very proud of her," said Frenie's mother, Nieva Morales-Acoba, 43, a registered nurse, who said Frenie took voice lessons for three months when she was 5. "I told her, 'Don't expect anything, just do your best.' "