Coco Gauff won the US Women’s Open final, becoming the latest black American woman to leave a historic mark on the holiest of American tennis courts.
Jove excelled Aryna Sabalenka And Belarus on Saturday in three sets (2-6, 6-3, 6-2).
“I just pray that I have the strength to do everything I can, no matter what,” Gauff told fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium after the game, explaining her prayers and mental state. “I just knew that if I didn’t give it my all, I wouldn’t have any chance of winning.”
She congratulated the champion Sabalenka on her rise to first place in the world with her presence in the final.
The 19-year-old showed extraordinary courage after finding herself down a set to a player considered technically the best in the world. Commentator Cliff Drysdale said that at that point it looked as if Sabalenka “was going to turn on her”.
It never happened.
The teenager quickly composed herself at the baseline and kept her serve calm but precise, chasing everything down. Her waiting strategy worked, as an inside-out forehand from Sabalenka in the second set went far and wide across the line and Gauff tied the match at one set apiece.
The third and decisive set passed quickly, and Gauff decided it when Sabalenka reached the net with a difference of 2 games to 5, and her forehand shot was ready, but with Gauff pressing a passing shot, it screamed past and fell into the goal.
“Coco has raised her game to a higher level than we’ve ever seen before,” commentator Chris Evert said.
Afterward, she went up to family members and coach Brad Gilbert for hugs, photos and congratulations.
Gauff’s upset win at Flushing Meadows, New York City, etched her name into the history books alongside other black American tennis icons such as Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Althea Gibson and. Sloane Stevens.
Gibson won the US National Award championship Women’s singles titles in 1957 and 1958, the predecessor to the US Open. Williams’ older sister, Venus, won the US Open in 2001 and 2002, while Serena won the tournament in 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Those six US Open singles titles Serena Williams is matched only by Everett Six championships in the modern era of the tournament, 1975–78, 1980 and 1982.
By Saturday, Goff, 19, was from Florida He won five singles titles But he was still seeking a title at one of the four major tournaments in the world (the US, French, Australian Open and Wimbledon).
I’ve come close before like Runner-up at the French Open in 2022 And when she reached the quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows last year.
revision (Saturday, September 9, 2023): An earlier version of this article misstated the final result. Coco Gauff Aryna defeated Sabalenka in three sets instead 6-2.
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