On Saturday, Coco Gauff battled back against newly crowned World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka to claim her maiden Grand Slam title. And for it to be the revered US Open, at Flushing Meadows, inside the cauldron that is Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the crowd bursting with adulation for their teenage star, is overwhelmingly emotional. Special even.
A clash against Aryna Sabalenka is a formidable challenge in every way, with the Belarusian possessing a fierce forehand capable of inflicting blows on any opponent. And in the first set, Sabalenka dominated, outmuscling Gauff, who seemed to succumb to the pressure on the biggest of stages. But all of a sudden, the tide turned, and much to the elation of the adoring home crowd, Coco Gauff thrived. Leaving few Sabalenka winners unreturned, and no smash uncontended, Gauff deflected Sabalenka's heavy blows, and forced a barrage of mistakes from the Sabalenka forehand.
In front of a star-studded crowd, Coco Gauff fulfilled what has seemed her destiny. Her ascent to the pinnacle of tennis was highly anticipated but has been admittedly fast-tracked. She perhaps did not envision lifting the Harton S. Semple Trophy this weekend, but as the fortnight progressed, it seemed all the more probable. In the biggest match of her career, against the best player in the world, this was always going to be a monumental task. Yet, Coco Gauff completed a resolute comeback, brilliantly recovering from a one-set deficit to round off a spectacular hard-court summer with the ultimate prize.
While Sabalenka surpasses Iga Swiatek as World No. 1 on the back of her prowess this year, culminating in her Australian Open triumph, her frustration on Saturday was clearly visible. The final scoreline read [2-6, 6-3, 6-2], as Coco Gauff halted Sabalenka's charge towards her second Grand Slam in 2023. After lifting the trophy, Gauff told the world, “Thanks to people who did not believe me, those who thought they were putting water in my fire. You were really adding gas to it.”
Following in the footsteps of her idols, the legendary Serena and Venus Williams, the hype around this teenage prodigy is every bit deserved. And as Gauff collapsed on her back, and tearfully embraced her parents, her relatives, her coaches, it became abundantly clear. Tennis in America has a new face.
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