You couldn't ask for much more from CoCo Vandweghe.
Usually, that expression is saved for the victor. But the 18-year-old American neophyte was placed in one of the most difficult positions I can recall in tennis—having to kick off a Fed Cup final without ever having played a live rubber.
Vandeweghe's obvious nerves were evident early on. After a couple of double-faults, she was broken in the first game of the match by Francesca Schiavone, a tricky opponent who only added to Vandweghe's anxiousness. The Italian has been one of the tour's top players in the past few months, and she exposed Vandeweghe's limited movement with relative ease. Schiavone played a solid, all-around game, taking the match 6-2, 6-4 in under 90 minutes.
In spite of all that, Vandeweghe showed some the reasons why U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez picked her instead of Melanie Oudin—though I wouldn't go so far as to say that the decision paid off. Vandeweghe's forehand is big enough to hit through most players, Schiavone included. She was, on the whole, consistent with her serve, which is never a surety in the women's game. And while there's room to improve her movement, she impressed me with her ability to retrieve Schiavone's low slices—and return them with some pop.
But a moral victory isn't going to get it done for the United States this weekend, who trail Italy 1-0 and seemingly must get a point from the next match, which features Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) and Flavia Pennetta (ITA). Vandeweghe's effort was commendable, and it may be the first step in a career-long Fed Cup journey. But the only thing that matters now is that it was a misstep.
—Ed McGrogan