Troy University Athletics
U.S. Open Jr. Girls Champ Playing In Troy Classic.
9/27/2008 5:00:00 AM | Tennis
Coco Vandweghe is fresh off of her U.S. Open Jr. Championship, and she is ready to earn her next title at the USTA Classic of Troy. Vandeweghe reigns from a family rich in athleticism.
Vandeweghe's mother, Tauna, was an Olympian on the 1976 U.S. Volleyball and swim teams. Her uncle, Kiki, is the general manager of the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Her brother, Beau, is on the volleyball team at Pepperdine. Her grandfather, Ernie, played for the New York Knicks in one of the team's best eras, the 1950's.
Coco's sport is tennis, and she is quickly adding history to the Vandeweghe name on the courts.
"Winning the junior grand slam was pretty awesome," Vandeweghe said.
Vandeweghe is just 16 years old and currently home-schooled as she travels the country living her dream.
"I play tennis every day except Sundays unless im in a tournament," Vandeweghe said.
She said she enjoys hanging out with her younger brother and sister when she's not playing, and they go hang out at the beach nearby their home in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Vandeweghe however, is focused on the USTA Classic of Troy and what she wants to accomplish in this tournament.
"I would like to win it," Vandeweghe said. "I'm just going to see how the tournament goes."
Vandeweghe will begin playing qualifying matches today, and hopes her practice at the Lunsford Tennis Complex pays off.
"This is my first time in the Troy tournament," Vandeweghe said. "I enjoy the tennis complex. It is very nice. The head coach here is a very nice guy. He's great. He helpes set me up some practice matches as soon as I got here, and I have gotten some good practice."
The coach Vandeweghe spoke of is the head tennis coach at Troy University, and he plays a big role in organizing The Classic each year in Troy.
A tournament win in Troy will do nothing but boost the rising, right-handed star even farther in her tennis career.
