It’s a moment many anticipated, regardless of Coco Gauff’s age or the challenges she faced. Amidst towering expectations and doubting voices, Coco Gauff achieved what she set out to do: become a Grand Slam champion at the young age of 19. Her victory at the U.S. Open was a dream realized, especially considering that she used to watch her idols, Serena and Venus Williams, compete at this very event as a child.
Gauff overcame a slow start to secure her first major championship, defeating Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a thrilling U.S. Open final. The enthusiastic crowd, which remained boisterous from start to finish, rejoiced at her historic achievement.
In the moments of triumph, Gauff first thanked her parents, grandparents, and brothers, although one of them missed her celebratory FaceTime call immediately after the match. Then, during the ceremony, she had a message for those who may have doubted her journey to this day.
“Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me. Like a month ago, I won a (tour) title, and people said I would stop at that. Two weeks ago I won a (tour) title, and people were saying that was the biggest it was going to get. So three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now,” Gauff declared passionately, riding a career-best 12-match winning streak. “I’ve been trying my best to carry this with grace, and I’ve been doing my best, so honestly, to those who thought they were putting water on my fire: You were really adding gas to it, and now it’s really burning so bright.”
Hailing from Florida, Gauff is the first American teenager to claim the U.S. major tennis title since Serena Williams in 1999. While last year’s U.S. Open marked a farewell to Serena Williams, this year’s event in New York showcased Gauff’s remarkable emergence on the global stage.
Gauff burst onto the tennis scene at just 15, becoming the youngest Wimbledon qualifier in history and reaching the fourth round in her Grand Slam debut in 2019. She made her first major final appearance at last year’s French Open, finishing as the runner-up. However, a setback came in July at the All England Club when she exited in the first round.
Since then, Gauff has been on a tear, winning 18 of her last 19 matches with new coaches Brad Gilbert and Pere Riba by her side.
In the U.S. Open final, Gauff demonstrated her resilience against Sabalenka’s formidable power, adapting to her opponent’s relentless attacks and responding with precision. Gauff secured an early break in the third set, ultimately winning it 4-0. Sabalenka briefly took a medical timeout for a leg massage at 4-1, but Gauff stayed focused by practicing serves during the break.
Sabalenka managed to break back, making it 4-2, but Gauff quickly regained her composure and closed out the victory. As she dropped onto the court in jubilation, she soon climbed into the stands to embrace her emotional parents.
Before this match, Sabalenka had boasted a 23-2 record at major tournaments in 2023, including a Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open. She was also poised to claim the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings for the first time. However, the overwhelming support from the crowd, typical for an American player in the U.S., made her the underdog in the stands.
In the early stages, winners by Gauff were celebrated as if the match were over, and even Sabalenka’s errors received applause from the crowd. However, Sabalenka’s numerous mistakes, including six double faults and 46 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 19, contributed to her downfall.
Gauff’s victory at the U.S. Open marks a historic moment in tennis, and her journey is only just beginning.
