Former American tennis player CoCo Vandewhege recently spoke about her mindset before facing Serena Williams at the 2012 US Open and how it led to her defeat. She urged young player Darwin Blanch not to make the same mistake when he competes against Rafael Nadal in the upcoming first round of the Madrid Masters 2024.
The match between Blanch and Nadal is set for Thursday, April 25, and will determine who moves on to the second round of the ATP 1000 event in Madrid. As a 16-year-old, it’s possible that Blanch may be intimidated by the prospect of facing a tennis legend like Nadal. But during a Tennis Channel preview of the game, Andy Roddick offered encouraging words, suggesting that the match will be a valuable learning experience for Blanch. He went on to say that while the current version of Nadal is not as intimidating as in the past, this will still be a fantastic opportunity for a young player like Blanch.
Vandewhege agreed with Roddick’s perspective, sharing her own experience of playing against Serena Williams in the 2012 US Open, where she admitted to having a defeatist attitude even before setting foot on the court. She emphasized the importance of enjoying the experience and not allowing it to overwhelm oneself.
Throughout her career, Vandewhege encountered Serena Williams three times – including the 2012 US Open – but was never successful in taking a set from the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
