Vandeweghe’s future is bright

Williams had nothing but nice things to say about Vandeweghe, and that could be a good sign for the future of American women’s tennis.

“She was so complimentary, and it’s an honor to hear that from somebody of that stature,’’ Vandeweghe said.

“After the match, she was like, ‘Great playing, it was fun to play you.’ ’’

Vandeweghe spoke yesterday before the Lobsters beat the Philadelphia Freedoms, 22-16. She teamed with James Blake to win in mixed doubles, but lost in her singles and women’s doubles matches.

Vandeweghe said she grew up looking up to the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport, so whenever she hears her name in sentences with theirs, it’s a bit startling.

Davenport’s name came up a lot after Vandeweghe won the 2008 US Open girls’ singles championship, a breakthrough moment for the then-16-year-old Vandeweghe. She won the tournament without dropping a set.

Vandeweghe was the first American to win the junior title since 1995. Davenport won it in 1992.

Since 2008, Vandeweghe has steadily climbed the WTA rankings; she’s currently at No. 98. She has never made it past the first round of a Grand Slam tournament, but she hopes to change that later this summer at the US Open.

Vandeweghe’s best shots are her serve and forehand, both packing a lot of power. She said she needs to improve her mental toughness to reach the next level - and not only compete well against the sport’s elite players, but beat them.

“The next jump is about consistency,’’ Lobsters coach Bud Schultz said. “It’s about being a little more discerning in terms of when she’s using power, how much power, when she uses certain tactics vs. trying to power every ball through the court.’’

It’s hard to tell Vandeweghe to stop hitting all-out, though. She’s very competitive, a trait inherited from a family full of athletes.

Vandeweghe cares deeply about winning. She cheers on her teammates. She plays her best tennis when the set or match is on the line. It’s the same approach she has taken in her career.

“When I started playing tennis, I wanted to be No. 1 in the world,’’ Vandeweghe said. “It’s all a progression of steps.’’

Vandeweghe knows she’s a few steps from where she wants to be. But as the Williams sisters creep closer to retirement, women’s tennis could use new American blood.

“There is a void,’’ Schultz said. “Of the group of USTA girls going through the channel now, I think clearly [Vandeweghe] has the most athleticism. We forget she’s only 19.

On Wednesday night, it was Serena Williams’s time. But soon, it could be Vandeweghe’s.