Former Australian Open semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe has explained her bizarre behaviour at an ITF tournament in the United States.
Vandeweghe, who has been ranked as high as number nine in the world, was locked at a set apiece with Ekaterine Gorgodze at the Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge in Landisville, Pennsylvania, when the match was suspended due to wild weather.
The American had first showed signs of distress late in the second set, when she made little attempt to return serve. After dropping the set, Vandeweghe called for a medical timeout and was about to pull out with injury before the match was suspended due to heat.
When conditions finally relented enough for play to resume, Vandeweghe made no attempt to warm up, instead standing at the baseline and simply batting the ball back towards Gorgodze.
“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,” the commentator said.
Vandeweghe has now explained exactly what was going on.
“I have been suffering from a severe sinus infection which is limiting my breathing,” she said.
“Late in the second set I also began experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion. My entire body was cramping intensely and I had extreme nausea.”
Vandeweghe said she used the suspension of play to seek treatment from the on-site medical staff, who did a great job rehydrating her and bringing her temperature down, but the 29-year-old told the umpire she didn’t want to warm-up when play resumed.
Instead, she suggested Gorgodze warm-up with her coach, which is allowed under the rules.
Rain forced the match to be suspended and moved to the following day, but the American found she was still unable to compete.
“I attempted a warm up this morning and decided to withdraw when I realised that I was unable to compete with all of my ability.
“I had zero intention of ever disrupting play.”
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