Vandeweghe headed to Rio to live lifelong Olympic dream

LONDON—CoCo Vandeweghe has been riding a blazing hot streak on grass just in time for Wimbledon, but her heart has been firmly set on something bigger: making it to the Olympics.

Two weeks ago, Vandeweghe won her second career WTA title in the same city she claimed her first in 2014. What is it about 's-Hertogenbosch that resonates with the Californian? (It can’t be the spelling.)

“The first year I won it was more of a surprise wow factor because I came from qualifying,” the world No. 29 said. “…This year was a little bit different because I was definitely not in a good place mentally. I was thinking [about] how my results last year were really good and I have to perform again this year. What if I don’t? Just thinking about the wrong things.

“It’s a really relaxing environment and they bring out a good crowd, which is always really fun.”

After her winning week, the 24-year-old celebrated with “a few too many Mars bars” and a steak dinner. Then she skipped right over to Birmingham, where she was rewarded with a first-round match against top seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

“I saw that during my cool-down after I won, and I thought ‘No way,’” Vandeweghe said. “But you can’t ask for a better time to play a first seed than in the first round. I’m coming off a high and she hasn’t played a match.”

Unfazed, Vandeweghe scored the second Top 5 win of her career—her first was in 2010, over Vera Zvonereva in San Diego—and kept rolling all the way to the semifinals, where her eight-match winning streak ended at the hands of Barbora Strycova.

Now the American is in London to defend a quarterfinal showing (her best-ever Grand Slam result).

“I think this is the most confident I’ve probably ever felt going into a Grand Slam,” she said. “It also helps that I’ve done well at this Slam. There’s always a panic moment when you’re at a Grand Slam of, ‘Oh crap, it’s coming closer. Am I ready? Have I done everything to prepare correctly?’ I feel really quite ready.”

It helps that Vandeweghe will be seeded for the first time (at No. 28).

“One of my goals this year was to be seeded at a Grand Slam,” she said. “Also, trying to battle for [the] Olympics, those were my two big goals for the year. So when I made the seeding I felt really accomplished ... I’m definitely not chasing right now. I feel like people definitely have to chase me right now, which is a different feeling than I’m used to.

"There’s nothing to be worried about. You take it one match at a time and you see what the heck happens.”

Vandeweghe nearly missed achieving her Olympic goal. The daughter of two-time Olympian Tauna Vandeweghe has never been shy about her passion for representing her country at the Olympics, and she has been especially vocal this year about how much it would mean to her to make it to Rio de Janeiro.

“I’m playing with Bethanie [Mattek-Sands] when the nominations come out,” Vandewghe said. “I’m going! And hopefully I’m going to play mixed with Bob [Bryan].”

Vandeweghe said she was frustrated after Roland Garros because, by losing in the second round, she buried her chance of being eligible for Rio in singles. Now, despite her lack of eagerness earlier in her career to buy into doubles, it has ended up being what ultimately pushed her down a second path to Olympic glory.

The American is ranked No. 21 in doubles after reaching the U.S. Open semifinals last year (with Anna-Lena Groenefeld) and the mixed-doubles final in Australia (with Horia Tecau). She also partnered with Mattek-Sands for the first time to win Indian Wells in March.

But earlier this month, Mattek-Sands broke her left thumb in practice, putting Vandeweghe’s chances at a doubles nomination in jeopardy.

“My Olympics just shattered right in front of my eyes,” she said. “I was quite calmly freaking out and depressed. But now it’s all good.”

Mattek-Sands is back in action, scheduled to play Wimbledon alongside Lucie Safarova, while Vandeweghe is playing mixed doubles with Tecau.

While Vandeweghe is clearly raring to go for Wimbledon, her heart is more firmly set on her biggest dream, which she says is more important than any major. When asked if she’d rather win Wimbledon this year or an Olympic medal at any point in her career, she immediately said, “Olympics.”

Rio better watch out.