DLNews Sports:
Coco Gauff (19) has her first Grand Slam title! The American won the final of the US Open against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (25) 2:6, 6:3, 6:2. The loser has the consolation of being the new number 1 in the world from Monday. Gauff jumps from six to three.
The moment of triumph! Coco Gauff lies on the floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
Gauff fell to the floor after the match point, tears streaming down her face. Then the obligatory, but new for her, run into the stands into the box. Deep hug with father Corey, a former basketball player. Coco: “I’ve never seen him cry until today.”
Gauff continued: “He was the first person I saw. I never want to forget this moment. It means so much to me! He is the reason why I won the match. He said it's time to bring in new people. BG (Brad Gilbert – editor) and Pere Riba greatly helped me.”
Gauff had been chasing this title for four years—the breakthrough at 15 at Wimbledon, when she sensationally reached the round of 16. But the big hit failed to materialize. What's more, others overtook her and won Grand Slam titles before her.
Like Emma Raducanu (20), who played in the juniors in 2019 and won the US Women's Open in 2021. And where was Coco? Stagnated, had a very bad 2023.
After the early exit at Wimbledon, Gauff mentioned the changes. Ex-professional Brad Gilbert (62) joined the team. He turned the suitable screws, and, as if by magic, two tournament victories in Washington and Cincinnati emerged.
Now, the most significant success of her career after two months with Gilbert. And the one at the US Open. Hollywood couldn't have written the script better.
In the beginning, however, you could be afraid and worried about the audience favorite. Gauff couldn't get his footing against the decisive game of the new number 1. So the 2:6 was the logical consequence, and there was a threat of a quick end
At the beginning of the second round, the number 6 was 15:40 behind on its serve. If she hadn't countered, Sabalenka would probably have been through.
But a legendary fight developed. Gauff repeatedly encouraged the 24,000 spectators. They kept freaking out during the spectacular rally.
Tennis greats like John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, and Maria Sharapova watched the spectacle from the stands. In addition, the acting stars Diane Keaton, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron (48), and Amanda Seyfried. NBA star Kevin Durant (34) was also there again.
They all celebrated a tennis festival and pushed Gauff to 6:3. Now the American Dream seemed within reach as she played herself into a proper frenzy, carried by chants of “Let’s Go, Coco.”
Sabalenka had little to counter this and seemed to despair at times. Especially because Gauff got two breaks at the start of the third set.
After 2:06 hours, it was all over! Gauff turned her match point into luck. The American Party followed the American dream.
\ 
Comments