New York-. This is what many people think Coco Gough No matter how young he is, no matter what setbacks he suffers along the way, he will achieve something at some point.
Those lofty expectations didn’t make it easier for the American to become a junior champion in a Grand Slam tournament. Especially those voices mixed with some questioning her.
However, she achieved this at the age of 19 at the US Open, where as a child she often went with her parents to watch the matches of heroines Serena and Venus Williams.
Coco Gauff overcame a lukewarm start to win her first Grand Slam title.
On Saturday, the local defeated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to win the U.S. Open title, unleashing a public frenzy that began in earnest. Cheering for her in the end.
After the game, Goff thanked his parents, grandparents and brother, one of whom did not immediately return a call via FaceTime after the game. Goff took the microphone and had a message for anyone who thought this day would never come.
“Thanks to everyone who didn’t believe in me. About a month ago I won a title on tour and people said this is where I’m going to stay. Two weeks ago I won another title and people said this is where I’m going to stay Biggest win. So, three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy,” he said.
“I’m trying my best to get through this with grace. For those who thought they were going to pour water to put out my fire, I tell you, they actually poured gasoline. Now that fire is burning bright.”
Goff, who was born in Florida, is the first American teenager to win a major title in his home country since Serena Williams was crowned in 1999. If the last US Open was a farewell to Williams, who played for the last time, then the performance in New York these two weeks was warmly welcomed by Goff.
This kind of victory has been anticipated since Gauff entered the game at 15, becoming the youngest person in history to qualify for Wimbledon and advancing to the fourth round on his debut in 2019.
He reached his first Grand Slam final at last year’s French Open, but lost. Now, he has lifted the most important trophy of his career.
Her 12th win was her 18th in her last 19 matches since being eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon in July.
Gauff, the sixth seed, accomplished that on Saturday, withstanding the power of nearly every blow Sabalenka threw. He eventually got used to the bombing and dealt with hit after hit.
At the beginning of the third set, he seized the first break opportunity and chased every ball until he completed the volley. He raised his fist and shouted “Let’s go!” in celebration.
Soon, the American team took a 4-0 lead in this quarter. 4-1, Sabalenka asked for a timeout to get a leg massage. Gough remained sharp after the break – a few minutes, rather than the 50 required in the semi-final to protest against climate change. He kept up the pace by practicing some serves.
When the game resumed, Sabalenka broke serve and led 4-2. But Gauff soon got a break of his own and quickly secured victory.
When he secured the ball, he fell back onto the court. He then climbed into the stands to meet his parents and other relatives and hugged them.
“You did it!” his mother told him in tears.
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fountain: Associated Press