From qualifying drop-out to Wimbledon quarter-finalist, CoCo Vandeweghe has come a long way in 17 months.
The 23-year-old bowed out of the ladies’ singles draw with a 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-2 loss to No.4 seed and former Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on Tuesday, but will look back on her breakthrough Grand Slam campaign as a solid stepping stone to the future.
“I have goals set, definitely for the rest of the year. I'm really happy with my progress in this tournament. I think this is a good stepping stone to follow into the US Open summer series,” Vandeweghe said.
The heavy-hitting American took it right up to Sharapova on Centre Court on Day 8, showing no sign of nerves in her maiden Grand Slam quarter-final appearance.
It was actually a bit surprising how easily I handled her balls sometimes
“I wasn't taken aback by her whatsoever from a game standpoint. It was actually a bit surprising how easily I handled her balls sometimes, from what you see on TV, then what you experience live in person,” she said.
Vandeweghe entered the quarter-finals on form after a standout run at SW19, dismissing three top 25-ranked players en route to the final eight: No. 11 seed Karolina Pliskova in the second round, No.22 seed Sam Stosur in the third and No.6 seed Lucie Safarova in the round of 16.
“This tournament I was able to perform to the best of my abilities to the quarter-finals,” she said.
“I'm happy with that motivation to go forward. You're definitely raising your confidence going forward into the next tournament when you have that many match wins against [the] calibre of players that I beat en route to the quarter-finals.”
Rewind to February 2014 and a Grand Slam quarter-final seemed all but out of reach for the spirited Californian.
Bundled out of the first round of qualifying at a WTA event in Acapulco last February, Vandeweghe knew changes had to be made. And fast.
She had battled ‘demons’ all her tennis life, but it took a rock-bottom result in Mexico for the big-serving Vandeweghe to reframe her approach to the sport.
Forever told she was unfit and out of shape Vandeweghe decided to act, committing to an improved training and nutrition programme – and learning to cook – to rebuild her game from the ground up.
“I was always told I was out of shape and all this stuff and I never believed it until one match – I remember it, it was in Acapulco – I lost in qualifying and this was before the good run in Miami,” she said.
“I was so mad at myself... that I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to really dedicate myself and educate myself to not only a great eating plan [but]... a great training programme and that’s going to take first priority over tennis’, and that’s what I decided to do.”
It was a seemingly minor change but one that has had a major impact on court. Prior to this year’s Championships Vandeweghe had never before progressed beyond the third round at a major, and credits her results this week to hard work alone.
“Hard works pays off,” she said.
“I’ve worked really hard – I wouldn’t say my whole career but in the past couple, two years, definitely – I’ve dedicated myself and sacrificed a lot of things to put in the time in the gym, on the court and taken time away from other things; friends, family and stuff like that.”
With a renewed focus and improved results – including her first WTA career title, which came on grass at ‘s-Hertogenbosch in June last year – Vandeweghe now feels right at home competing alongside the world’s best.
“I definitely feel like I belong, I’ve said before that if you’re acting like you’re not in the same group or clique or something like that with the top players then when you step out with a top player, they kind of have an edge against you, so I definitely think I belong and I earned the spot here,” she said.
Born into an athletic family – her mother was an Olympic swimmer, her uncle and grandfather played basketball for the New York Knicks – Vandeweghe was almost destined to succeed in sport.
Now with a Grand Slam quarter-final to her name the 2008 US Open junior champion has hit a new high, and will take renewed confidence into the US hard-court season – just as soon as she recovers from Tuesday’s gritty three-set showdown.
“I didn't enjoy [today’s] result too much. But I'm sure tomorrow I'll be feeling even less happy about this, at least body‑wise,” she said.
“It's been a long two weeks, playing singles and doubles here. But I'm happy with my progress through the tournament, and I'm happy with the whole experience of it.”
