Strong Vandeweghe first finalist in Ricoh Open

CoCo Vandeweghe (WTA-43) is the first player to secure a place in the final at the Ricoh Open. The American was too strong for her compatriot Madison Brengle (WTA-68) winning in straight sets: 6-4, 6-2.

 Brengle had won three times out of their five previous meetings. The last two times, during the last two editions of the Australian Open, Brengle did this without losing a set.

Vandeweghe Controlled  the match and dictated most rallies. However, it was Brengle who forced the first two break chances at 2-1, but the sixth seed cleared each hurdle with aggressive tennis.

At 3-3 Brengle lost a 40-0 advantage on her own serve and then lost the game after vandeweghe sent a backhand return winner down the line. Finishing off the set at 5-4 was not going smoothly, but with a little luck Vandeweghe won on her fourth set point.

In the second set Vandeweghe lost only four points on her own service and had no break opportunities against her. Ninety per cent of Brengle’s serves were in during the second set, but she was continuously kept under pressure.

Vandeweghe, who lost in the quarter-finals against Kiki Bertens last year, won the title at the Autotron in 2014. To repeat that victory on the grass at Rosmalen, she has to beat top seed Belinda Bencic from Switzerland or third seed Kristina Mladenovic (WTA-32) from France.