19-year-old Coco Gauff has won her first career grand slam after defeating soon-to-be world number one Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the US Open final in Queens, New York.
Gauff is the first American teenager to win the event since 1999, when Serena Williams first took the title.
She rallied for a dramatic win after losing the first set 6-2 to Belarusian Sabalenka, who will move up the WTA singles rankings to No. 1 on Monday, replacing Iga Swiatek.
Gauff looked in control for the next two sets, winning 6-3 and 6-2. She seems to thrive on comebacks, having won against Laura Siegemund and Elise Mertens in her run to the final despite losing each first set.
She will now move to No. 3 on the singles ranking and No. 1 on doubles along with Jessica Pegula.
"Thank you first to my parents," said the teenager after the match. "Today was the first time I've ever seen my dad cry. He doesn't want me to tell y'all that, but he got caught in 4k!"
Of rallying after the first set, she said "I just pray that I have the strength to give it my all, and whatever happens happens. I just knew if I didn't give it my all, I had no shot at winning."
"I feel like I'm in shock at this moment. God puts you through tribulations and trials, and that makes this moment sweeter than I would have imagined."
barbie dreams 💞💁🏾♀️🏆 pic.twitter.com/N2yCuvgJI6
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) September 10, 2023
Gauff's first experience in a grand slam final was last year, when she lost quickly to Iga Swiatek in the French Open. Before Saturday she had won five singles titles but never a major.
Meanwhile Sabalenka said that her soon-to-be top ranking is why she wasn't "super depressed right now," but joked "I'm definitely going for a drink tonight — if I'm allowed to say that."
"Sometimes I can get emotional," she admitted. "Today on the court, I was overthinking and I was missing... balls I shouldn't be missing."
Sabalenka and Gauff also each graciously congratulated the other.
