USA’s Coco Gauff holds the trophy after defeating Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open tennis … [+] tournament women’s singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 9, 2023. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty ImagesCoco Gauff, 19, has just written Tennis history by becoming the youngest U.S. Open champion since Serena Williams won it in 1999, aged 17.
Encouraged by a sold-out Ashe Stadium, including Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Diane Keaton, Gauff, American Tennis’ future, offered herself her maiden grand slam title, four years after her unforgettable debut at Wimbledon.
Tensed Start Both players had a lot of difficulty getting into their final.
Coco Gauff, at 19 and playing on home soil, failed to impose her game in the first set. Controlled by her emotions, she committed several unnecessary unforced errors. And yet, Aryna Sabalenka wasn’t much better, but it was enough for the Belarusian to conclude the first set 2-6.
The turning point for the young American came in the second set when she managed to break her opponent’s serve. From that point onwards, the Belarusian’s unforced errors multiplied, while Gauff’s decisiveness appeared. Thanks also to good defense when necessary, she maintained her advantage until the end (6-3).
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot against Aryna … [+] Sabalenka of Belarus during their Women’s Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Getty Images The start of the third round confirms the observed trend: Coco Gauff wins the first four games against a ghost version of the new No. 1 Sabalenka. She then continued her race in the lead, despite a late comeback from Sabalenka after the medical break.
Faster, more determined, focused, and decisive, the American comfortably earned her first Grand Slam title, the biggest title of her young career.
Unfortunately for Aryna Sabalenka, she missed the opportunity to grab a second Grand Slam this season after having won the Australian Open in early 2023. The Belarusian will console herself with the No. 1 ranking, for the first time in his career, starting next week.
Coco Gauff’s First Words As US Open Champion “I’m in shock. The defeat at Roland-Garros was very hard to take. This moment now is extremely sweet. I feel blessed in this life, I am very happy when these results come. I knew I had to fight to win. I congratulate Aryna and her team for this result and this number 1 place. She is a great player and a beautiful person.”
Aryna Sabalenka’s ReactionNEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after her runner-up finish … [+] against Coco Gauff of the United States during their Women’s Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Getty Images“Winning the world number 1 spot is the highlight of my year. I congratulate Coco and her team, she deserves this title, there will surely be many others, even if I hope that our head-to-head will be different next time (laughs).”
Fun fact Coco Gauff became only the third player since 1990 to win the final of the US Open after losing the first set.
US Open Prize Money Gauff will take home a £2.37 million cheque. The 19-year-old made sure to thank Billie Jean King for her continuous work fighting for equal prize money. “Thank you, Billie for fighting for this.”