Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam winner.
The 19-year-old American secured her first major women’s singles title at the 2023 US Open on Saturday, beating Belarus’ Aryna Sablenka in three sets to become the youngest American to win since Serena Williams in 1999.
“I feel a little bit in shock right now,” Gauff told the crowd after her win. “That loss at the French Open was heartbreaking for me, and that makes this moment even sweeter than I could have imagined.”
Gauff’s eventual victory looked unlikely after the first set, with the 25-year-old Sabalenko, the reigning Australian Open champion, outplaying her 6-2. But the teenager’s confidence grew steadily throughout the second set, especially after a big break in the middle. One epic point even led to an impressed applause from Sabalenka, while Gauff encouraged the adoring crowd to cheer louder.
The New York crowd, unsurprisingly, favored Gauff heavily, echoing chants of “Let’s go, Coco,” breaking through several times late in the second set, which she eventually won 6-3.
Arina Sabalenka.
Robert Prange/Getty
Coco Gauff on chasing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open: ‘The goal is to win’ (Exclusive)
Gauff got to the third with flying colors – immediately breaking Sabalenka, then holding serve before breaking her again.
Gauff won another break late in the set, allowing her to serve for the win, 6-2. The teenager collapsed on the pitch before running into the stands to embrace her parents and the team in an emotional hug.
“I’m just grateful for this moment, I have no words to be honest,” she said at the post-match ceremony.
When asked how she orchestrated her big comeback, Gauff said, “I just knew that if I didn’t give it my all, I had no chance of winning.”
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Coco Gauff.
Al Bello/Getty
Gauff went on to thank her parents – laughing as she revealed her father: “This is the first time I’ve ever seen my dad cry – he doesn’t want me to tell you.”
She also gave a nod to “the people who didn’t believe in me.”
“To those who thought they were adding water to my fire, you really were adding gas.”
Her final thank you went to Billie Jean King, who presented her with a $3 million check on the 50th anniversary of King’s successful fight for equal pay at the US Women’s Open.
“Thank you, Billie, for fighting for this,” Gauff said.
It was the culmination of an incredible two months for Gauff, in which she won two WTA tournaments. She also bounced back from a heavy loss at the 2022 French Open, her only Grand Slam final before Saturday.
It was a star-studded afternoon – celebrities who came out for Gauff and Sabalenka included Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Quinta Brunson, Amanda Seyfried, Laverne Cox, Mindy Kaling, Kevin Durant, Rachel Brosnahan, Spike Lee, Alexandra Daddario, Cara Delevingne and Maria Sharapova. Charlize Theron, however, got the loudest cheers from the crowd as she danced to the Black Eyed Peas.
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Source: HIS Education