A third-generation Vandeweghe will grace the Garden on Monday.
CoCo Vandeweghe is entered in the “Tie Break Tens” tennis exhibition — partly to honor grandfather Ernie Vandeweghe, a star forward on the Knicks from 1949-1956.
The Garden will host the unorthodox knockout round-robin that will feature eight women, including Serena and Venus Williams. Each match is a 10-point tiebreaker. The champion receives $250,000.
“My grandfather was definitely the driving force behind me doing this,’’ Vandeweghe told The Post in a phone interview. “I know my grandfather didn’t play at ‘this’ Garden, but he played at the Garden so it has meaning.”
Kiki Vandeweghe, CoCo’s uncle, is also a former Knicks forward (from 1988-1992) and now works for the NBA’s office as chief disciplinarian.
CoCo still maintains her Knicks fandom despite the club’s years of misfortune. She said she has been to the Garden a handful of times as a fan.
In fact, the New York-born 6-foot-1 right-hander was once critical of Carmelo Anthony, saying at Wimbledon in 2015 that he was “a bit soft.”
“Yes I do still follow them,’’ Vandeweghe said. “You’re not a true supporter if you don’t go through the tough times. I’m still a supporter of the Knicks.’’
Vandeweghe, raised in San Diego, made her first US Open semifinal in September before losing to Madison Keys. Kiki Vandeweghe, who was in the stands in Flushing, said he’ll be at the Garden on Monday watching his niece. (Ernie Vandeweghe died in 2014).
“It felt great to make the semifinals of the US Open, and to do it in my home country’s Grand Slam made it even more special,’’ Vandeweghe said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get the end result in the semis I wanted, but it’s a great stepping stone to achieve the goals I’ve set last year. I definitely think it was a great stepping stone.’’
Vandeweghe regards her controversial first-round ouster from the Australian Open — the year’s first Slam — to Hungary’s Timea Babos a fluke because she played with the flu.
Known for her fiery nature, Vandeweghe received code violation for complaining that bananas weren’t available courtside, saying the venue was “ill-prepared.’’
“I hadn’t been out of bed until my match day,’’ Vandeweghe said. “I wouldn’t call it an experience. You go into Grand Slams trying to perform your best when you’re bedridden for almost week that’s not your best foot forward in one of the four Grand Slams.’’
Vandeweghe could face Serena Williams at the Garden — or at the marquee Indian Wells, Calif., tournament in nine days when Williams will make her long-awaited WTA return after giving birth in September. Vandeweghe was US teammates with Serena at the Fed Cup last month, when Serena only played doubles with sister Venus.
“When she’s ready to play, I’m sure she’ll play like the champion she is,’’ Vandeweghe said.