Kiki Vandeweghe has to admit — it just may be in the genes.
Coco Vandeweghe, Kiki’s niece, will play her first US Open quarterfinal at noon Wednesday at Ashe Stadium, facing No. 1 seed Karolina Pliskova.
Uncle Kiki, the former Knick forward and Nets GM/coach, will be an Ashe spectator, sitting by his sister, Tauna, a U.S. Olympic swimmer at the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal.
The father of Kiki and Tauna is the late Ernie Vandeweghe, also a former Knick. Kiki lives in New York and now works for the NBA office as executive VP of basketball operations, his chief responsibility dishing out suspensions.
“I got to be there,’’ Kiki told The Post. “It’s one of the greatest sporting events. I may have to come back to the office afterward but I love going.”
After Vandeweghe’s fourth-round victory, the 20th seed commented “I’m trying to catch up to my grandfather to be the best athlete in the family.”
Was that a Coco dig at Kiki? Ernie played for the Knicks from 1949-1956, featured on three NBA Finals teams and finished with a scoring average of 9.4 points. Kiki was on the Knicks for four seasons (1988-1992), made the playoffs each year and posted a career scoring average of 19.4 points.
“My dad always is the best,’’ Kiki said diplomatically. “That’s the way I view it. We’re all rooting for Coco to be the best. I want her to surpass all of us.”
The Vandeweghe bloodlines run further. Coco’s great uncle (Kiki’s mother’s brother) was Mel Hutchins, a four-All-Star for the Fort Wayne Pistons who even played a season for the Knicks in 1957-58. No wonder Coco, born on Long Island before moving to Southern California, is a Knicks’ fan.
“I couldn’t be more proud or excited for her,’’ Vandeweghe said. “She’s playing great tennis and showing a lot of her natural ability. She has great athletic ability. Obviously it came from her two parents.’’
Coco’s fiery oncourt demeanor is unmistakable. She routinely throws or bangs her racket in disgust. In the past, Kiki said he’s told Coco to “focus on tennis.’’
But as he’s watched Coco’s career unfold, he feels the volatility works for her. She’s had her career year at age 25– making the quarterfinals of three of this year’s four Grand Slams.
“She has that under control and it now motivates her and it’s not a distraction,’’ Vandeweghe said. “She expresses frustration, then she’s right back focused on tennis. It’s been great for her – a big positive. I haven’t talked to her about it in a while. You got to be yourself. If I told her something now, that’s what I would say. Play your game, not someone else’s.’’
Coco in the Open semifinals would not surprise Vandeweghe. “I have a lot of confidence in her,’’ Kiki said. “I think she’s playing great. She’s showing a lot of her natural talent and skills and strategy. I couldn’t be more proud of her.’’