'Shocked' Coco Gauff joins exclusive list after becoming 10th teenager to ever win US open

Coco Gauff won the 2023 US Open title on home soil (Photo Credit: US Open/X and Pulse Sports collage)

'Shocked' Coco Gauff joins exclusive list after becoming 10th teenager to ever win US open

Izuchukwu Akawor 02:16 - 10.09.2023

9-year-old Coco Gauff is still in shock after she wrote her name in an exclusive list of US Open legends that includes Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Stephanie Graf.

Tennis sensation Coco Gauff has written her name in Tennis history books after she earned her first-ever US Open title.

Gauff was crowned the US Open champion in the Women’s Singles after she came from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka two sets to one to pick up her first Grand Slam title at the age of 19. 

She defeated Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the US Open final late on Saturday night. 

Coco joins elite list

The win against the second seed Sabalenka has seen the youngster join a number of exclusive lists.

Coco became the youngest American to win any Grand Slam title since compatriot Serena Williams in 1999.

Also, she is now the 10th teenager to ever lift the US Open in the history of the competition. 

Coco Gauff
An emotional moment for Coco Gauff at the US Open. (Photo Credit: US Open/X)

She has joined a list that includes A-listers like Williams, Tracy Austin, Stefanie Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Bianca Andreescu and Emma Raducanu. 

How she defeated Sabalenka

Belarusian superstar came into the US Open final as the favourite for the title having won the Australian Open earlier this year. 

It was no surprise that the 25-year-old started in blistering fashion as she blew Coco away to take the opening set 2-6. 

Coco Gauff
Aryna Sabalenka (left) and Coco Gauff (right) before the start of the final. (Photo Credit: US Open/X)

But despite boasting a 23-2 record at major tournaments this year, she was unable to stop the rampaging US sensation from a historic comeback and win. 

Gauff overcame the stormy start to take the next two sets en route to her first-ever major Grand Slam title. 

In the end, Sabalenka racked up 46 unforced errors in the match to 25 winners. Sixth-seeded Gauff, meanwhile, hit 13 winners to 19 unforced errors, but in the deciding set, hit five winners to just two unforced miscues.

Coco shocked 

Speaking after the win against Sabalenka, while she’s shocked by what she had achieved, the American is happy to put behind her the heartbreak from her defeat in France.

An emotional Coco Gauff could not believe what she had achieved as she broke down after the win. (Photo Credit: US Open/X)

"I feel like I'm a little bit in shock at this moment," Gauff said as per the US Open website. 

"That French Open loss was a heartbreak for me, but I realize that God puts you through tribulations and trials, and that makes this moment even sweeter than I could've imagined.

Coco Gauff savors the moment with her beautiful trophy. (Photo Credit: US Open/X)

"I just knew that if I didn't give it my all, I had no shot at winning," she added. 

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