CoCo Vandeweghe: Fed Cup should be a priority for WTA players

CoCo Vandeweghe has now won eight consecutive matches in Fed Cup play.

This past weekend in the semifinals, the American led the United States to victory over the Czech Republic in Florida, winning all three of her matches.

“I think that number just states how much it means to me to play for my country, even if it is a detriment to WTA singles," she said of her winning streak in the competition. "But it's important to me. I'll continue to keep playing as long as I'm called upon.''

Earlier this year, the 25-year-old beat Germans Julia Goerges and Andrea Petkovic to send the US into the semifinals. The last time that Vandeweghe lost in Fed Cup was in 2015, when she went down to Argentinian Paula Ormaechea in straights.

She is much more comfortable now, and plans to keep playing the team competition even as she continues to rise on the WTA tour. Vandeweghe recently reached her first Grand Slam semifinal, at the Australian Open, and is No. 23 in the WTA rankings.

"I want to play," she said. “I think more people should take that as a priority because Fed Cup is such a great atmosphere, such a great kick-starter to a career. It's such a great momentum builder for a lot of different things.”

The U.S. will play Belarus in the Fed Cup final.