September 10, (THEWILL) – American tennis sensation, Coco Gauff, completed a remarkable comeback to win her first Grand Slam title at the US Open on Saturday.
The 19-year-old beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, recovering from a poor start to claim a dramatic victory. She is the first American woman to lift the US Open trophy since Sloane Stephens’ triumph in 2017. It did not come easy as Sabalenka dominated the opening set, racing into a 4-0 lead with Gauff struggling to find her rhythm.
However, roared on by a vociferous home crowd, Gauff fought back superbly in the second set, breaking the Belarusian twice to force a decider. The sixth seed built on that momentum in the third set, breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times to clinch a famous 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory.
The title caps a remarkable breakthrough year for Gauff, who reached her first Grand Slam final at the French Open in June. Facing the world’s number one-in-waiting Sabalenka at Arthur Ashe Stadium, she showed tenacity and composure beyond her years to come through a tense battle. After sealing the championship point, an emotional Gauff embraced her parents in the stands.
For Sabalenka, it marks a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar Grand Slam season. The 25-year-old claimed the Australian Open title in January and also reached the last four at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. However, she was undone by too many unforced errors as Gauff’s relentless defence kept her under constant pressure.
Gauff’s New York triumph is the latest sign that American women’s tennis is enjoying a renaissance, with players like Stephens, Madison Keys and Danielle Collins all reaching Grand Slam finals in recent years. The teenage phenomenon will now set her sights on more major titles as she joins this new generation.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
