CoCo Vandeweghe
A powerful, outspoken American tennis player whose aggressive serve-and-volley game brought her into the world's top 10 and delivered major doubles glory.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American tennis player·Birthday: December 6·Millennials
Biography
CoCo Vandeweghe played tennis with a force of personality as big as her game. Hailing from a family of athletes—her mother was an Olympic swimmer, her grandmother a Miss America, and her uncle an NBA star—she carried herself with a confident, sometimes combative, swagger. Her weapon was a thunderous serve and a net-rushing boldness that felt like a throwback in the modern baseline era. That style propelled her to two grass-court titles in 's-Hertogenbosch and to the semifinals of both the Australian and US Opens, where she famously defeated top seeds with fearless play. Injuries and inconsistency eventually hampered her singles trajectory, but she found a triumphant late-career chapter in doubles, partnering with Ashleigh Barty to win the 2018 US Open in a thrilling final. Vandeweghe's career was a compelling blend of raw power, family legacy, and an unwavering belief in playing the game on her own attacking terms.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
CoCo was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When CoCo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
CoCo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2018 US Open women's doubles title with partner Ashleigh Barty.
- Reached the singles semifinals of the Australian Open (2017) and the US Open (2017).
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 9 in the world in 2018.
- Won two WTA singles titles, both at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships in the Netherlands (2014, 2016).
Did You Know?
Her full name is Colleen Vandeweghe, and 'CoCo' is a childhood nickname.
Her uncle, Kiki Vandeweghe, was a multiple-time NBA All-Star and later a general manager.
She was a standout junior, winning the 2008 US Open girls' singles title.
She is known for having one of the fastest serves in women's tennis, regularly clocking over 120 mph.
“I'm not going to change who I am for anybody. I'm going to play the game that I know how to play.”
