Coco Gauff rallies from set down to topple Aryna Sabalenka for maiden Grand Slam title at US Open
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Updated 10/09/2023 at 14:13 GMT
The women’s singles final at the US Open got the finale it deserved, as Coco Gauff rallied from a set down to claim a stunning success over Aryna Sabalenka. Roared on by a partisan crowd at Flushing Meadows in New York, Gauff weathered an early storm before taking control to claim her maiden Grand Slam title. Sabalenka will become the world No. 1 on Monday
Watch the moment Gauff wins her first slam title with victory over Sabalenka at US Open
Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka and claim her maiden major title at the US Open.
The American became the first teenager to reach the women's singles final in New York since Serena Williams in 2001 and made the most of her opportunity as she withstood an early onslaught to win 2-6 6-3 6-2 on one of sport's most iconic stages.
Sabalenka, whose consolation is that she will take over as world No. 1 from Iga Swiatek on Monday, made a strong start in a bid to silence a partisan crowd but will be left to rue a raft of errors that allowed her opponent back into the contest.
It will be another tough loss for the Belarusian but there is no denying Gauff was the worthy winner on Saturday at Flushing Meadows as she battled back from losing the first set for the fourth time in the tournament.
"It means so much to me, I feel like I'm a little bit in shock in this moment," Gauff said. "That French Open loss was a heartbreak for me but I realised God puts you through tribulations and trials and this makes this moment even sweeter than I could imagine.
"[My faith] has been so important. I don't pray for results, I just ask that I get the strength to give it my all and whatever happens, happens.
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Coco Gauff of the United States reacts after defeating Aryna Sabalenka
Image credit: Getty Images
"I'm so blessed in this life so I'm just thankful for this moment, I don't have any words for it to be honest."
The tension was palpable as the mouth-watering clash got going under the roof and in front of a packed Arthur Ashe stadium.
Gauff opted to serve first but it was Sabalenka who made the ominous early headway, forging two break points in the opening game and converting the second with a stunning crosscourt backhand.
A comfortable hold consolidated the break before Gauff, who vowed to fight for every point in the moments before stepping into one of the sport’s most famous arenas, hit back.
The American teenager held serve in the third game to get off the mark and drew level at 2-2 after taking advantage of some erratic tennis from Sabalenka.
Still neither player appeared settled as the errors flowed. Sabalenka put Gauff under more pressure and had a huge chance to break and restore her advantage but fluffed her lines at the net with the court at her mercy. She wouldn’t be denied, though, and moved 3-2 ahead when Gauff put a forehand in the net.
Sabalenka continued to go for her shots and continued to come unstuck, coughing up yet more break-back points. She eventually survived the near eight-minute game, despite Gauff’s incredible defensive efforts, to surge 4-2 clear.
Sabalenka silenced the crowd in the next game when she broke Gauff for the third time and then served out to clinch the first set 6-2.
Into the second set and two double faults from Gauff gave Sabalenka two chances to seal an early break but the American showed all her resilience to come through and reignite the Arthur Ashe faithful.
Gauff cut a frustrated figure in the next as the Belarusian’s power hitting helped her level at 1-1 but she continued to show the kind of fight that saw her win from one set down three times en route to the final. At 2-1 ahead, a brilliant backhand passing shot on the run from Gauff brought up deuce on the Sabalenka serve as the American looked to gain a foothold.
The pressure of the occasion then appeared to get the better of Sabalenka as she sent a forehand well long before double faulting to hand Gauff the break and a 3-1 lead.
Sabalenka had a break-back point in the fifth game but couldn’t convert as 3-1 became 4-1 and the drama continued at 30-30 in the next game. Fighting to stay in the second set, a series of vicious ground strokes had Gauff on the run until a defensive lob looked to have given the American another break opportunity, only for Sabalenka to return the favour, lofting the ball over her opponent to win what was one of the points of the match.
But Gauff wouldn’t be denied and sent the contest into a decider in stunning fashion. Serving for the second set at 5-3, she produced some of her best tennis, pulling her opponent from side to side before holding to 15 to set up the climax the final deserved.
It was the American who struck first in the third, as her ability to make Sabalenka play one extra ball started to tell. Gauff created two break points and took the second with a confident smash that was in contrast to Sabalenka’s body language.
The momentum and the crowd were with Gauff and the teenager showed no signs of wilting, holding serve and then securing a double break at 3-0 as Sabalenka continued to unravel.
Gauff came from 0-30 down to hold for 4-0 as she closed in on her first Grand Slam but there was another twist as Sabalenka broke back for 4-2, moments after taking a medical timeout.
However, as she has done all tournament, Gauff immediately put that setback behind her to re-establish her two-break advantage, before she served out to love to complete her New York fairytale.
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