World Team Tennis: Vandeweghe secures victory for New York Empire - with a crazy finish!
Coco Vandeweghe secured victory for her team New York Empire at World Team Tennis - with a crazy forehand on the all-important ball.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Aug 03, 2020, 11:41 am
The American Coco Vandeweghe decided with an all-or-nothing stroke the final of World Team Tennis - for New York Empire. The team from Chicago Smashs won after a 17:20 deficit with 21:20, and in the end everything was a lot tighter than the final result.
Because it was 20:20 when a "13-point supertiebreaker" had to serve for the decision. Vandeweghe and Nicole Melichar competed against Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sloane Stephens, and the short decision ended up 6: 6. Unlike regular tie breaks, there shouldn't be a two point difference, but the next ball to decide. In other words, both New York Empire and Chicago Smash had match balls for overall victory!
And Chicago had the advantage on their side, because Stephens was allowed to serve. She even brought the first serve into the field, but return player Vandeweghe took full risk and dashed a forehand past Melichar - on the line. Or just behind it? The Hawk-Eye had to decide and indicated that Vandeweghe's brutal stroke had still scratched the line - game, set, match and World Team Tennis victory 2020 for New York Empire!
"One of the greatest moments in tennis history"
The ball brought back memories of the Hopman Cup final 2019 between Switzerland and Germany, here, too, both teams had match balls at the same time, Federer and Bencic trembled at the end to win over Zverev and Kerber .
"I've never been under such pressure," said match winner Vandeweghe . "But it was fun to have the ball on my racket, to be able to control the situation. Fortunately, I controlled it correctly." And WTT CEO Carlos Silva cheered: "This must go down as one of the greatest moments in tennis history."
The Chicago team boss Kamau Murray had dared a lot shortly before the end with a substitute from Genie Bouchard in favor of Stephens; the other points guarantors Bouchard and Mattek-Sands had lost their doubles 4: 5, as well as the extension with 0: 2. Stephens, on the other hand, had spent a good hour on the bench before being allowed to come into play for the "13-point supertiebreaker". And here came up with strong actions, but there was nothing to be done about the Vandeweghe forehand.
Jack Sock and comebacker Kim Clijsters also worked for New York Empire. Under the direction of ex-double star Luke Jensen, who gave the instructions stylishly equipped with wooden clubs.
This year the World Team Tennis took place in nine different cities due to the corona pandemic exclusively on a hotel site. There were no positive COVID-19 cases, but Danielle Collins was released from the event over the course of the series due to a violation of the Corona requirements .