Coco Gauff took the nation by surprise today. In a terrific comeback, cheered on by the crowd, the American beat favorite Aryna Sabalenka and became the youngest player (19) to win the US Open since 1999, when a very young Serena Williams lifted the trophy on American soil at the age of 18.
With this enormous feat, Gauff was confirmed as one of the most promising tennis players on the circuit, managing to subdue one of the best players in the world with an iron defense and enviable energy.
YOU GO COCO! pic.twitter.com/ztI2h0tdul
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
Sabalenka, in fact, began the match in a splendid way by taking the first set 6-2, which made the development of the finale even more exciting.
The Belarusian tennis player had noted her superiority against a Gauff, who was overwhelmed by her adversary's talent. The winning shots began to pile up for Sabalenka and Gauff found no way out, looking helpless and uncomfortable in the first set.
But then she managed to catch the home crowd's support and she began to force Sabalenka's mistakes by becoming much more aggressive in her first shots.
Gauff's improvement was remarkable, managing to overcome the discomfort and initial nervousness to pure conviction, and clouding Sabalenka, who found no alternatives to Gauff's tactical change.
Gauff finally managed some breaks and staged a great comeback in the second and third sets (6-3 and 6-2) to win her first Grand Slam.
The moment you become a Grand Slam champion. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/AsQwN1eXl4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
"It means so much to me. I feel like I'm a little bit in shock in this moment," Gauff said after winning her first US Open. "That French Open loss was a heartbreak for me. But I realized God put you through tribulations and trials and that makes this moment even sweeter than I could have imagined."
