Dreams do come true as Gauff topped America’s tennis queen

AFP

American tennis topped a brand new queen and US Open champion on Saturday as Coco Gauff beat Aryna Sabalenka within the Flushing Meadows closing to say her first Grand Slam and ascend the throne left vacant by Serena Williams.

The first teenager to play in a US Open closing since Serena in 2001 there was symmetry to the second as Gauff rallied to beat the second seeded Belarusian 2-6 6-3 6-2 and finish a six-year barren stretch for American tennis followers, who had been lastly in a position to have fun a homegrown champion.

“I am so happy I could make this country proud,” mentioned Gauff as chants of “USA, USA” rang out behind her.

American girls have been on the rise in recent times transferring into the highest 10 and profitable tournaments however since Serena Williams performed her final match on Arthur Ashe in 2022 the US has been with out a normal bearer – till now.

Gauff, who as a younger lady mentioned she had dreamt of changing into the subsequent Serena Williams, is now simply that the undisputed face of US tennis with many predicting she is going to develop into the world’s high ranked participant sooner or later with a trophy case full of Grand Slam titles.

“Congratulations to US Open champion, @CocoGauff! We couldn’t be prouder of you on and off the court – and we know the best is yet to come,” posted former US President Barack Obama on social media platform X.

Still simply 19-years-old Gauff has matured underneath an unforgiving sporting highlight as participant and an individual.

The completed product was on show on Saturday as Gauff defused Sabalenka’s energy with pace and tenacity working down ball-after-ball after which acknowledged her success with grace.

“That little girl, like she had the dream, but I don’t know if she fully believed it,” mentioned Gauff. “As a child, you’ve gotten so many goals.

“As you get older sometimes it can fiddle away. I would tell her don’t lose that dream.”

As spectacular as Gauff is on the court docket she isn’t any much less so away from tennis.

Immediately after her win Gauff’s first response after lifting herself off the court docket and wiping away tears of pleasure was to look the stands for her dad and mom, who used to deliver her to New York as a younger lady to look at her idols on the identical court docket.

The charismatic teen additionally possesses a pointy social consciousness and pleasant sense of humour all of that are going to make her very wealthy as sponsors rush to her door.

When local weather activists interrupted her semi-final inflicting a virtually hour delay Gauff later confirmed no animosity saying later she believed that local weather change was actual.

The US Open this 12 months celebrated Billie Jean King and the fiftieth anniversary of the struggle for equal pay, Gauff playfully acknowledging the wrestle when accepting the trophy.

“Thank you Billie Jean for fighting for this,” mentioned Gauff waving a $3 million winner’s cheque.

Gauff has lengthy been tipped for greatness.

A high junior she was offered the important thing to her metropolis of Delray Beach at simply 14 and burst onto the world scene a 12 months later beating one other of her idols Venus Williams at Wimbledon.

Progress as knowledgeable has been regular however not all the time at a tempo some demanded.

Last 12 months she made her Grand Slam breakthrough reaching the ultimate of the French Open, however shedding. Then at this 12 months’s Wimbledon hit a low with a primary spherical loss that left her feeling just like the dream had ended for her.

“It’s been difficult it’s been a long journey to this point,” mentioned Gauff. “I wasn’t a totally developed participant, and I nonetheless suppose I’ve loads of growth to go at that second.

“I feel individuals had been placing loads of stress on me to win.

“Now I just realise that I just need to go out there and try my best.”

Renewed focus and the return dwelling for the exhausting court docket season introduced a change of kind and motivation.

Since the Wimbledon loss Gauff has gained 18 of 19 matches embrace US Open, Cincinnati Open and Washington.

“Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” sixth seed Gauff advised a packed Arthur Ashe stadium that backed her from the second she appeared out of the tunnel. “A month in the past, I gained a 500 (degree) title and other people mentioned I’d cease at that.

“Two weeks in the past I gained a 1000 title and other people had been saying that was the most important it was going to get.

“So three weeks later, I’m right here with this trophy proper now.

“I tried my best to carry this with grace and I have been doing my best and honestly to those who thought they were putting water on my fire you were really adding gas to it and now I am burning so bright.”