The summer of Coco Gauff continued on Saturday afternoon as the 19 year-old American sensation defeated Aryna Sabalenka 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to win her first career Grand Slam title. She is the youngest American (19) to win the US Open since Serena Williams won in 1999 at 17 years old.
Coming into this Grand Slam final, second-seed Aryna Sabalenka was looking to pick up her second Grand Slam of the calendar year, in addition to the world No. 1 ranking on Monday. Six-seed Coco Gauff, aimed to continue her hot summer season after winning the D.C Citi Open and the Cincinnati Open in the ramp-up to the U.S. Open.
Before the players even walked out onto the court, the New York crowd was already backing their American hero.
Both players expressed nerves early, as there were three breaks of serve in the first five service games. Sabalenka was first to overcome the nerves, hitting eight winners and breaking Gauff’s serve three times in the first set, as she won the first set 6-2 in just 43 minutes. The Belarusian had eight winners to Gauff’s three.
The end looked like it was looming as Gauff fell down 15-40 in the opening game of the second set. However, she battled and held serve, defending two break points, which got the crowd back into it.
As Sabalenka served at 1-2, Gauff’s pressure switched the momentum back into her favor. A splendid cross-court backhand that passed Sabalenka at the net set the score to deuce, getting the American crowd back into it. A forehand unforced error and double fault from Sabalenka gave Gauff her first break of the second set, sending Arthur Ashe Stadium into a ruckus.
Immediately following the break, Gauff faced a break point at 30-40, but three straight forehand errors gave Gauff a 4-1 lead in the set. “This match could come down to whoever’s forehand holds on the longest,” tennis legend, Chris Evert, said on the ESPN coverage.
Chants of “Let’s Go Coco” rang out in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd as Gauff served for the second set at 5-3. Gauff maintained her composure and won the set, 6-3. The star-studded New York crowd was thrilled this match was going the distance. Celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Spike Lee and Kevin Durant couldn’t contain their excitement.
Gauff’s momentum from the second set carried into the third immediately as she broke Sabalenka’s serve in the first game. Just when you thought the pro-Gauff crowd couldn’t get any louder, it did.
Another break came Gauff’s way in the third game, making it 3-0, as Sabalenka continued to miss forehands long. Following the second break, Gauff kept her foot on the gas pedal, holding for a 4-0 lead. What a drastic turn of events in this Grand Slam final.
After holding for 4-1, Sabalenka called for the trainer and received a medical timeout to deal with an inner left thigh cramp or injury. Sabalenka then applied pressure on Gauff’s service game, getting the break, but immediately dropped serve after. Gauff would serve for her first career Grand Slam at 5-2.
Sabalenka’s composure started to unravel as she fell into a 0-40 hole from three unforced errors.
With three match points on her racquet, she hit a passing backhand down the line to complete the comeback and win her first Grand Slam title. Overcome with emotion, she fell onto the ground into a star. She put her hands into a heart shape for the crowd before going to embrace her family, friends, and coaches.
Gauff’s incredible summer has come to a fitting conclusion, as she’s gone 18-1, with three titles, since Wimbledon and hiring Brad Gilbert as her coach.
With her victory on Saturday, Gauff became the world No. 3 on Monday. Sabalenka rose to the world No. 1 ranking, as Iga Swiatek’s record for most weeks as a women’s No. 1 came to an end. Both players are on pace to reach the year-end WTA finals in Cancun, Mexico.
Leave a Reply