Coco Gauff hunts down a sensational US Open title
In the period of the past few years, Coco Gauff has broken out at Wimbledon, had a tremendous run at Roland-Garros, and received her diploma in a timely fashion. Now, the 19-year-old paragon of determination is set to face off against Aryna Sabalenka in her maiden U.S. Open singles final. Gauff emerged victorious against Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, winning 6-4, 7-5 on Friday. The atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium was electric with the clash of Muchova’s court-spanning style of play and the spotlight on the American player. Punctuated by shots that both grazed and soared clear of the net, the battle for a ticket to the final left the air palpable.
Gauff’s control over the game was incredibly visible in the early second set, but her 6-4, 1-0 lead was interrupted by a climate protest staged at the higher levels of the stadium. A mere 50 minutes later, succeeding a spectacular 40-shot rally, Gauff secured her victory, becoming the youngest American to power through to the final since her idol, Serena Williams, in 2001.
Aryna Sabalenka marches on in pursuit of a second Grand Slam title
In a rematch of their meeting at Wimbledon, Aryna Sabalenka clinched a tumultuous, three set victory against Madison Keys, entering her 2nd Grand Slam final of the year and her first at Flushing Meadows. The victory comes after Keys stunned in a monumental 6-0 victory in the first set, playing to the crowd with an amalgamation of powerful forehands and serves which had the entirety of the stadium thrilled at the nearing prospect of an all-American final. But as Keys encroached on a victory with a 5-4 lead, Sabalenka took an early opportunity and drove the set to a tiebreak, taking the match forth to a deciding set. A third set and a premature celebration later, the soon-to-be-top seed had booked herself a direct sprint for the Semple Trophy.
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