In a historic moment at the US Open on September 9, Coco Gauff secured her first Grand Slam victory by defeating Aryna Sabalenka.
This triumph not only marked Gauff’s maiden Grand Slam win but also positioned her as the first American teenager to grasp the coveted US Open crown since Serena Williams accomplished the feat back in 1999 at the age of 17.
Sabalenka, the second seed, initially had the upper hand, breaking Gauff’s serve three times and swiftly securing the first set in just 40 minutes.
However, the 19-year-old American sensation orchestrated a remarkable comeback, eventually prevailing over the Belarusian with a final score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Reflecting on her journey to this historic milestone, Gauff humbly stated, “The road to this point has been challenging and filled with lessons. I recognize that I am still evolving as a player, and there is immense room for growth.”
She also shared her thoughts on the pressure she faced, saying, “Expectations were high, but now I understand that giving my best effort is what truly matters.”
With this extraordinary victory, Gauff is poised to ascend to the world No. 3 ranking in singles, reaching a career-high position.
Meanwhile, despite her loss, Sabalenka is set to claim the world No. 1 ranking on September 11, thanks to her previous victory over Iga Swiatek, who had held the top spot in the world standings for an impressive 75 weeks.
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