US Open 2023: Coco Gauff wins maiden Grand Slam title after three-set thriller against Aryna Sabalenka

Coco Gauff, on Saturday, September 9, defeated soon-to-be World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the US Open 2023 to win her maiden Grand Slam women’s singles title. It took Gauff two hours and six minutes to win the match 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Gauff, thereby, became the youngest after Serena Williams to get her hands on the trophy. Back in 1999, Serena defeated Martina Hingis 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in the final when she was 18 years old.

The opening set was pretty much a one-sided affair as Sabalenka took only 40 minutes to close it out. She started the match with a break of serve, putting Gauff under pressure right from the outset.

However, Gauff hit back with a service break to make it 2-2. However, Gauff’s joy was short-lived as Sabalenka earned a double break to go 5-2 up.

At 2-5, 15-40, the 19-year-old Gauff saved a set point, but an unforced error from her brought the curtains down on the set. Both players made three double faults each and were tentative with their second serves. But it was the three breaks Sabalenka earned that ended up making the difference.

GAUFF TURNS FORTUNES AROUND

Unlike the first, Gauff held her serve in the opening game of the second set. Even this time around, Gauff faced a break point, but she somehow survived thanks to two unforced errors from Sabalenka.

Sabalenka, in the meantime, recovered from the loss of a break to hold her serve and make it 1-1 in the second set. This time, it was Gauff who earned the first break in the set to go 3-1 up and she held her serve to go 4-1 up. For the first time in the match, Sabalenka looked to be in a bit of strife.

From there on, Gauff did not give Sabalenka a chance to get a foothold back into the second set. The local star closed out the set in 44 minutes after an unforced error from Sabalenka. By the end of the second set, the match was all set for a thrilling finish. However, Gauff had other ideas.

Gauff started the deciding set in the best possible manner, earning an all-important early break with a smashing forehand down the line. The sensation from the USA kept growing in stature by taking a double break and going 3-0 up in the second set.

Sabalenka did try to make a comeback with a service break, but Gauff returned the favour in the very next game to make it 5-2. It was only a matter of time before she stormed to winning the title, taking down the reigning Australian Open champion.