By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 12, 2017
CoCo Vandeweghe triumphs over Andrea Petkovic to place Team U.S.A. into the Fed Cup World Group semifinals.
Photo: Mark Peterson Corleve
The United States moved into the Fed Cup World Group Semifinals for the first time since 2010 today with a 4-0 sweep over Germany at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Maui.
Coco Vandeweghe clinched for the Americans with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, win over Andrea Petkovic. Petkovic had won the last three meetings, but could not hold on to her advantage on Sunday. Vandeweghe improves to 3-3 in Fed Cup singles matches, while Petkovic drops to 12-8.
“Like I said out there on the court, it's really a team effort,” Vandeweghe said. “It's a home tie for a reason. I think that was a big motivating factor for me to come out there and represent my country. I don't really need much of a reason more to give everything I have out there on the court.”
Petkovic held a set and a break advantage and later lamented dropping the final ten games of the match.
I just think at 4-2 I had 15-40 and I was playing well,” she said. “I think she served really well in the decisive moments there. She had four first serves and then I played a bad game at 4-3. I think in tennis it can change so quickly. Then she was just serving really well in the third set. I never really got any rhythm to begin with. It was difficult for me to find my way or grind my way back into the match then in the third set."
Vandeweghe was scheduled to begin her day with the completion of her suspended match from Saturday. She led Julia Goerges by a set and a break, but Goerges was forced to retired with a leg injury.
The United States will face the Czech Republic at home in World Group Semifinals, held April 22-23, for a chance to compete for the 2017 Fed Cup title. Germany will compete in the World Group Playoffs in April to remain in the World Group for 2018.