On Saturday, Coco Gauff, who defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the Flushing Meadows final to win her first Grand Slam and take the throne vacated by Serena Williams, was anointed the new queen and U.S. Open champion of American tennis.
There was symmetry to the moment as Gauff fought to defeat the second-seeded Belarusian 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and bring an end to a six-year drought for American tennis fans, who were finally able to enjoy a domestic champion. Gauff was the first teenager to play in a U.S. Open final since Serena in 2001.
Although American women have been improving in recent years, cracking the top 10 and winning competitions, the country has been without a standard-bearer since Serena Williams played her final match on Arthur Ashe in 2022.
Gauff, who as a young child claimed she dreamed of being the next Serena Williams, is now unquestionably the face of American tennis, and many believe that one day she will top the world rankings and have a trophy cabinet full of Grand Slam victories.
Gauff, who is still only 19 years old, has developed both as a player and a person while living under the harsh athletic limelight.
On Saturday, Gauff demonstrated the finished result as she gracefully recognised her victory after swiftly and tenaciously running down ball after ball to neutralise Sabalenka’s might.
Her performance throughout the competition was encouraging, as she prevailed soundly from the opening round to the final, and then claiming her first ever Grand Slam title.
ROAD TO FINAL
First round: Laura Siegemund (Germany) 3-6 6-2 6-4
Second round: Mirra Andreeva (Russia) 6-3 6-2
Third round: 32-Elise Mertens (Belgium) 3-6 6-3 6-0
Fourth round: Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 6-3 3-6 6-1
Quarter-finals: 20-Jelena Ostapenko (Latvia) 6-0 6-2
Semi-finals: 10-Karolina Muchova (Czech Republic) 6-4 7-5
What do you want to ask or share?