Coco Vandeweghe is causing quite a stir at this year’s Wimbledon. Having knocked out Karolina Pliskova (#11 seed), Sam Stosur (#22 seed) and Lucie Safarova (#6 seed and French Open finalist), the 23 year old American will play Maria Sharapova on Tuesday for the chance to make her first Grand Slam semifinal.
Standing at 6’1”, Vandeweghe possesses an impressive serve with which she bullies her opponents into submission. This has been particularly effective on the grass courts and she positively demolished Stosur, who failed to win a game after going 2-0 up. Furthermore, her game is predicated on all-out offense with her forehand being a particularly fearsome weapon. Linked with her competent volleying and you have all the makings of a player who should succeed on the grass at SW19.
Thus far, Vandewedghe has had an unremarkable year having won just 11 singles matches, although she did make her first third round appearance at a Slam at the Australian Open, and is at number 47 in the world rankings. This Wimbledon has been something of a revelation for her as she hasn’t dropped a set and has fired down 37 aces.
Maria Sharapova will provide a much sterner test for the New Yorker. The last few years have not been kind to her on the grass courts of Wimbledon as the red dirt in France has been much more to her liking. A former champion back in 2004. it is safe to say that she yearns to reclaim the title which launched her career into the stratosphere. As the number four seed here, Sharapova will expect herself to cruise through this plucky upstart.
To win this match, Vandeweghe will have to do everything she has been doing and more. Her serve will be the key to a victory because without it, Sharapova will put her in a world of hurt. Sharapova struggles when players are able to take the game to her and hit winners. Her defence has certainly improved but she struggles to recover adequately on the slippery surface and this could work well if Vandeweghe is able to pummel her forehand down the line.
This is all new to Vandeweghe and she should fully enjoy it. One gets the sense that she will not be content with losing at this stage and wants to take her game to Sharapova. It will be an interesting match up and one which Vandeweghe will endeavour to swing her way.
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