Coco Gauff was emotional after winning the US Open. (Photo by Albello/Getty Images)
After the game, Coco Gauff collapsed on Arthur Ashe Stadium and cried.
Gauffe beat Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final on Saturday to capture her first Grand Slam title. Goff, 19, became the first American teenager to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams in 1999.
What a moment for Coco Gauff#USOPEN Champion 🏆
(pass @usopen)pic.twitter.com/FAJlgbMUYj
—Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 9, 2023
The 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory marked the culmination of a year-long journey for Gauff, who has long been hailed as the future of American tennis but has yet to break through. Gauff gained some momentum by winning two tournaments in August: the Washington Open and the Cincinnati Open.
Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals, while world No. 2 Sabalenka beat American Madison 0-6, 7-6, 7-6 ·Kes advanced to the finals. The decisive moment of the match came when Gauff ran to her left and fired the ball past Muchova’s outstretched racquet.
“Thank you to those who don’t believe me” Gough said afterwards. “A month ago I won the 500 and people said I would stop there. Three weeks ago I won the 1,000 and people said it was the best I’ve ever done. Three weeks later I held the The trophy stands here.
“People who thought they were putting water on my fire, they were actually putting gas on it and I’m burning brightly now.”
By defeating Muchova, Gauff became the first American to win the U.S. Open since Sloane Stephens in 2017.
After the historic win, Gauff walked into the stands to hug her parents, and tributes began rolling in on social media.
“proud of you,” Michelle Obama wrote. “Your hard work and perseverance showed throughout the entire competition. “This is your moment! ”