Review: Plenty to be excited about in TopSpin 2K25, which successfully recreates the joy (and frustration) of tennis

Success in any team endeavor takes all participants buying into a shared goal. It helps when a player in the midst of her own career-best season grasps that concept.

CoCo Vandeweghe reached two Grand Slam semifinals in 2017, and cracked the Top 10 in singles for the first time. While she didn’t win a singles title, she spearheaded the US Fed Cup team’s charge to its first title in 17 years by going undefeated in singles and doubles.

In the first round, Vandeweghe picked up two singles wins against Germans Julia Goerges and Andrea Petkovic to lead the U.S. sweep.

It was a tighter contest in the semifinals as the U.S. took on the Czech Republic, the three-time defending champions. In that tie, Vandeweghe won her two singles matches, then partnered Bethanie Mattek-Sands in doubles to clinch victory and send the Americans into their first Fed Cup final in seven years.

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Facing the U.S. would be a surprising Belarus contingent, who hosted the final in Minsk. Coming off a runner-up finish at the WTA Elite Trophy—already extending her career-long season—Vandeweghe once again won her two singles matches. With the final even at two matches apiece, Vandeweghe played the role of closer again, this time taking the doubles match with Shelby Rogers.

First-time captain Kathy Rinaldi built a solid squad that supported each other and bonded all season long. The environment was one Vandeweghe clearly found favor with.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias