On September 9, 2023 Coco Gauff took her first US Open title over Aryna Sabalenka in Arthur Ashe Stadium, New York. The 19 year old Coco Gauff is the youngest person to win since Serena Williams victory at 17 years old. The match went 2-6, 6-3, and 6-2 leading to the victory for Coco Gauff.
Out of pure excitement and joy at the end of the match, Gauff fell to the ground on her back. She got up crying of celebration and happiness. She went and hugged Sabalenka who told her “You played unbelievable. Congrats to you and your team, you guys deserve this title. Many more to come, I’m pretty sure.” Gauff then ran to her parents and the rest of the team, hugging them all.
Many celebrities showed up for the very exciting match. Madelyn Cline, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Barack and Michelle Obama, Chase Stokes, Keith Urban, Nichole Kidman, Christopher Briney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jerry and Jessica Seinfield, Emma Roberts, Kevin Durant, Ben Stiller, Tom Brady, Mariska Hagritay, Bon Jovi, Chloe Kim, Lil Uzi Vert, Jimmy Butler, and so many others were there to enjoy the great tournament.
Gauff at the start of the match had a long first 40 minute set that she ended up losing, which made many lose hope of her winning it all. Gauff came in as the number 6 seed and pushed past the odds, due to the last 28 US Open Women’s finals 27 of the winners won the first match.
After the match Gauff was speaking to the media. “Oh my goodness, it means so much to me,” Gauff said to ESPN’s reporter Mary Joe Fernadez. “It is an honor to have my name listed on the same trophy as Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams, who won the title a combined eight times,” Gauff told reporters. “They have allowed me to believe in this dream. Growing up, there weren’t too many Black tennis players dominating the sport. It was literally, at that time when I was younger, it was just them that I can remember.” Gauff stated a big part of her inspiration and role models to play tennis is the Williams sisters.
Coco Gauff is becoming the next up and coming star of the tennis world since one of her first great games when”…she burst onto the scene at Wimbledon in 2019 and reached the fourth round as a 15-year-old qualifier.” Gauff is very excited about her win and she continues to inspire the next generation of tennis players everyday.
