Vandeweghe Upsets Third-Seeded Zvonareva at Mercury Insurance Open

8/6/2010

Carlsbad, Calif. – On a cool, crisp summer night at the La Costa Resort and Spa, it was the perfect time for some “Hot” CoCo.

Fans at the Mercury Insurance Open Presented by Tri-City Medical Center watched another terrific evening of tennis as CoCo Vandeweghe, who grew up in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, played one of the best matches of her professional career as she upset 2010 Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.

The 18-year-old American had the crowd behind her throughout the match. However, nerves got the better of her in the first set as she dropped her first two service games. The players traded breaks in the fourth and fifth games allowing the more experienced Zvonareva of Russia to take a 4-1 lead.

Vandeweghe squandered three break opportunities in the next game as the Russian held to go up 5-1. Zvonareva served out the next game at love to win the first set in 40 minutes.

In the second set, despite hitting six double faults, Vandeweghe stayed on serve and was able to take a 6-5 lead. Zvonareva served to stay in the second set, but quickly fell behind 0-40. The Russian saved one break point, but lost the next point to send the second-round match to a third set to the delight of the Stadium crowd.

As the crowd sensed an upset, Vandeweghe broke Zvonareva twice and won four straight games to take a 5-2 lead. The Russian held to pull to 5-3 and then broke to get back on serve at 5-4. On the changeover, Vandeweghe met with coach Tom Gullikson who told her mixed up her shots. The advice worked as the American reached a match point on Zvonareva’s serve.

0n her first match point, Vandeweghe slammed a forehand crosscourt and took the match 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and 13 minutes as the crowd screamed its approval.

Vandeweghe will meet Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals on Friday.