Coco Gauff has thanked those who doubted abilities after coming from a set down to defeat new world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the US Open women’s singles on Saturday.
The 19-year-old American was not at her best in the first set as Sabalenka broke Gauff thrice to dispatch her 6-2 in 40 minutes. Guaff however toughened up in the second set, breaking Sabalenka in the fourth game to win the set 6-3 and level the match. She took things up a notch in the final and decisive set by breaking Sabalenka three times and won the set 6-2.
It was Gauff’s third title in this season’s US Open series, winning WTA 500 and WTA 1000 titles in Washington and Cincinnati respectively. Each tournament win was the biggest of her career and now that she has added a Grand Slam, she claims her doubters have added more petrol into her fire to keep her burning rather than water that quenches the fire.
What a summer for Coco Gauff. ???? pic.twitter.com/btLa3HdFrP
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
“I just want to thank all the people who didn’t believe in me,” Gauff said. “I won a 500 title and people said I would stop at that. Two weeks ago. I won a 1000 title and people were saying that was the biggest it was going to get, but three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy.
“I’ve tried my best to carry this with grace and I’ve been doing my best so honestly, to those who thought you were putting water on my fire, you’re really adding gas to it. And now I’m really burning so bright right now.”
It's all about the company you keep. ???? pic.twitter.com/S59CgrtmoZ
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023
The US Open was Gauff’s second Grand Slam final appearance after last year’s French Open where she lost to Iga Swiatek. The Delray Beach native saw that as a motivation to do much better which has reflected in her 2023 form. Gauff’s victory at Flushing Meadows also puts her in the same bracket with the likes of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka as black women to have recently won the title.
“I watched Iga lift up that trophy, and I watched her the whole time. I said to myself ‘I’m not going to take my eyes off her’, because I want to feel what that felt like for her,” Gauff continued.
“I think people were putting a lot of pressure on me to win. I felt that at 15 I had to win a Slam at 15. I think that was not the mistake, because everything led to this moment so there was no mistakes.
“I think the pressure has been a little bit taken off a little bit, and I still am hungry for more. I’m just going to enjoy this and try not to look into the future.
“I remember Sloane winning this trophy in 2017 and I lost in the juniors. It was an inspiring moment for me to see her win because I grew up watching her and I have known Sloane since I was 10 years old.
“Obviously Serena and Venus, words can’t describe what they meant to me. I hope that I’m a continuation of a legacy. I hope another girl can see this and believe they can do it and hopefully their name can be on this trophy too.”
Gauff’s triumph earned her a $3 million prize money and a jump from sixth to a carer-high third in the latest WTA rankings to be released on Monday.
