Cellular South Cup 2nd Round: Coco Vandeweghe ousts Alexandra Stevenson
American tennis pro Coco Vandeweghe ousted compatriot Alexandra Stevenson in easy straight sets 6-2, 6-2 at the second round of the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, Tennessee. The 19-year-old prodigy took just one hour and six minutes to defeat her opponent.
Vandeweghe’s win came as a bit of a surprise to many spectators, who expected Stevenson to repeat the results of her recent Midland victory over the teenager. However, Vandeweghe is World Number 106 while Stevenson lags behind at World Number 293. In addition
to this, Stevenson is 30 years old and may be reaching the end of her career. Although she did make it to the finals of this event in 2002, her tennis skills have most likely started to atrophy over this time.
Coco Vandeweghe, the niece of National Basketball Association [NBA] general manager Kiki Vandeweghe, maintained almost constant control throughout the match. She managed to save one of three break points, and successfully converted two of six against Stevenson.
The first set consisted of four return games and four service games apiece. Vandeweghe managed to take 29 out of 51 total points, winning 57 percent. She won the first set 6-2.
The second set was even less competitive than the first one. Vandeweghe was clearly in the lead from the beginning; with one set already under her belt, she won three points with aces and saved four of five break points. Stevenson was unable to defend herself
and her opponent successfully converted all three break points during this set. The same amount on return and service games were played as in the first set, but Vandeweghe managed to win 34 of 54 points to win 63 percent of the total points. The American repeated
her first-set result, and ended the match with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.
Vandeweghe, who is on the verge of breaking into the Top 100, has played eight matches so far this year. This is her fourth victory. She turned pro in 2008, and is expected to do well on the WTA Tour. Meanwhile, American pro Alexandra Stevenson may be leaving
the Tour soon. She turned pro in 1999, and has been playing for over eleven years. In 2011, she has played eleven matches; this is her fourth loss.
The two players now have a head-to-head record of 2-1 to Coco Vandeweghe. Their first meeting was at the qualifying rounds of the La Quinta event in 2007. Vandeweghe won the match 5-1 after Stevenson retired. However, Stevenson managed to thrash Vandeweghe
6-3, 6-2 in the round of the last 32 at the 2011 Midland tournament earlier this year.
Coco Vandeweghe will now face sixth seed Rebecca Marino, of Canada. Marino defeated Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-2 to qualify for the quarterfinals of the 2011 Cellular South Cup.
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