Wildcard owner Coco Vandeweghe surprisingly reaches the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart (live at DAZN). The world rankings-16th from the USA defeated sixth-placed Caroline Garcia (France) 6-4, 6-2 in the semifinal round of the indoor sand court tournament, the last time Vandeweghe had played a final in Zhuhai in November 2017, but lost against Julia Görges (Bad Oldesloe). On Sunday, the power player from New York will face either Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic/No. 5) or the unseeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit.
By Ulrike Weinrich from Stuttgart
After 1:14 hours Vandeweghe, who came into the main field with a so-called Top-20 Wildcard, turned her first match point with a serve winner. When their first service came, Coco made the point in 92 percent of the cases. In the box her coach Pat Cash, Australian Wimbledon winner from 1987, showed the winner’s fist. It is Vandeweghe’s first appearance in the final on ashes.
Actually, it’s a surface for which she’s had nothing but sneering comments so far. “I only like sand in the sandbox under my feet, Vandeweghe once said. But in Stuttgart the US Open semi-finalist from 2017 impressively proved that she can now also find her way on the slowest “surface”.
In the first round of Stuttgart, Vandeweghe, who managed her two WTA triumphs in s’Hertogenbosch on grass, typically defeated her countrywoman Sloane Stephens 6-1, 6-0. Together with the reigning Flushing Meadows winner, Vandeweghe had reached the final with the US Fed Cup team a few days earlier.
In the round of 16, the 26-year-old won against defending champion Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) – and on Friday the next coup in the semi-final against industry leader Simona Halep. The Romanian defeated Vandeweghe clearly with 4:6, 1:6.
In the duel with Garcia, the 1.85-metre tall American could rely above all on her serve strength – and her efficiency. Her first break point at 4:4 was successful. Garcia’s backhand sailed out. Shortly thereafter, Coco won her first set point with an irresistible volley. The Frenchwoman allowed Vandweghe to win the first round after 39 minutes when she missed a forehand.
Garcia, who had won the titles in Wuhan and Pekin at the end of last season, went on and on. Vandeweghe remained constant and had made the preliminary decision with her third break at 5:2. She did not allow a single break point during the entire game.
Vandeweghe will fight for her third WTA title on Sunday. In any case, her family’s programme is tough competition: Mama Tauna was an Olympic swimmer in 1976, Grandpa Ernie was a basketball player for the New York Knicks, Uncle Kiki was also a basketball player. Only Grandma Colleen is a little out of place – she was Miss America in 1952. And once gave her granddaughter the following motto: “Fake it till you make it!” “(“Fake it until you reach it!”)