Tennis fans were left puzzled after US player CoCo Vandeweghe put on an unusual display at a major tournament.
The former world number nine was up against Ekaterine Gorgodze, of Georgia, at the Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge in Pennsylvania, when she shocked the crowds with an unsettlingly lacklustre performance.
Vandeweghe was sharply criticised for refusing to chase after balls during a warm-up with her opponent, even switching to her non-dominant hand for forehands.
One critic accused her of being “petulant”, suggesting she was being stubborn and “refusing to do a proper warmup”, while a match commentator said he had “never” seen such behaviour “in my life”.
Vandeweghe being her petulant self and refusing to do a proper warmup. No idea how she didn’t get defaulted for this. pic.twitter.com/SFxQg40Biu
— Gigi (@Prinznutella7) August 11, 2021
“This is unbelievable. CoCo doesn’t want to warm up. And she says, ‘If you’re going to make me do it, then I’m not going to move, I’m not going to do anything,’” he said.
“I’ve never seen this in my life. This is wild. She’s going to do just enough here just so she doesn’t get in trouble.”
However, he also conceded that temperatures on the court had reached 90F (32C), which is pretty scorching by anyone’s standards.
After the heat break, Coco doesn't want to warm up https://t.co/MTL48kZImq pic.twitter.com/vBHRr3UMBj
— Luis (@lu_tenis) August 11, 2021
Following the public backlash, Vandeweghe took to Twitter to explain her actions.
The 29-year-old explained that she’d been suffering from a “severe sinus infection” as well as heat exhaustion.
“By the end of the second set my entire body was cramping intensely and I had extreme nausea. I struggled to finish,” she wrote in a lengthy statement.
“After the (heat) suspension was lifted my opponent requested a warm-up; I informed the umpire that I preferred to skip the warm-up, citing my exhaustion and general illness in an attempt to conserve energy for what would be a grueling third set under the conditions.”
She added that she had wanted to “conserve as much energy as possible during the warm-up in preparation to compete with all of my ability in the third set,” and so had recommended that Gorgodze warm up with her coach, but her rival “declined”, forcing her back onto the court.
— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) August 12, 2021
Despite a solid performance to clinch the first set, Vandeweghe’s game abruptly changed in the second and allowed Gorgodze to go level with her by failing to go after shots.
The American player also appeared to grab her leg at points, and called for a medical time-out after the second set - but play was then also suspended due to the hot weather.
After it was safe for play to resume, the two players returned to court. However, the American still appeared to lack energy and enthusiasm compared to her fellow competitor.
Scores of Twitter users at the time condemned Vandeweghe’s actions - or lack thereof.
Abysmal. This is work. If you’re not fit to be there then stay home and stop wasting everyone else’s time.
— on my goat! (@C4mi13) August 12, 2021
Really bad look. Her attitude and her preparedness. Her “fitness” as commentators like to say, seems lacking.
— Richard 🏳️🌈🇺🇸🇵🇦 (@RichardNYrealty) August 12, 2021
Neither have I. Even Serena kinda of used to warm up Sharapova. CoCo is disrespectful in every single way.
— Glauco Wright (@Glaucowright) August 12, 2021
However, many also defended the sportswoman:
She informed Brian(ref) & the chair she couldn’t warm up, that she was sick & cramping. That her opponent could warm up with her coach, the girl refused. Hence the non warm up warm up. I think it’s important that context is giving in this scenario. It was after the heat rule 🛑
— Rennae Stubbs OLY (@rennaestubbs) August 12, 2021
Context people: warm up after break for _heat_: coco said no, opponent said yes. Opponent has right to request someone else. When was the last time you did optional work in a heat wave?
— Missing his thundercoat (@spin4srv) August 12, 2021
@BenRothenberg wish you would have gotten context before you posted this. This was after a rain delay. Coco was cramping and asked if she didn’t have to re warm her up and if her coach could. Her opponent said no, she wanted Coco. Thus the seeming lack of effort.
— Jon Sloan (@jonsloan) August 12, 2021
In the end, Vandewegh withdrew from the match after the third set was suspended because of rain.
In the tournament’s second round, Gorgodze was defeated by British tennis star Emma Raducanu by two sets to one.
