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<\/div>\nAmerican teenager, Coco Gauff fulfilled the potential she has long promised by landing her first Grand Slam title with a fightback win over Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.<\/p>\n
Gauff, seeded sixth, started slowly in front of an expectant home crowd but grew in confidence to wear down second-seed Sabalenka in New York.<\/p>\n
Gauff, 19, clinched a 2-6 6-3 6-2 win on a delirious Arthur Ashe Stadium.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI feel like I\u2019m in a little bit of shock at the moment,\u201d Gauff said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like God puts you through tribulations and trials and that makes this even sweeter,\u201d added the American, who lost in her only other major singles final at the 2022 French Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thankful for this moment. I don\u2019t have any words.\u201d<\/p>\n
Australian Open champion Sabalenka, meanwhile, must wait for a second major title.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Belarusian can at least console herself with the knowledge she will become the world number one for the first time.<\/p>\n
Gauff will rise to a career-high third when the latest rankings are released on Monday \u2013 but claiming her first major at her home Grand Slam is what really matters.<\/p>\n
When sealing victory with a backhand winner on her first championship point, Gauff immediately fell on to the court and laid on the sideline with her hands covering her face.<\/p>\n
Almost the whole 24,000 crowd, which provided boisterous support throughout as they willed Gauff to victory, erupted in a frenzied celebration.<\/p>\n
Gauff, overcome with emotion, made a heart sign to the fans before going up to the stands to see her parents Corey and Candi.<\/p>\n
All three hugged and jumped in a circle as the family\u2019s sacrifices and hard work had resulted in one of the sport\u2019s biggest prizes.<\/p>\n
Asked to describe that moment, a laughing Gauff said: \u201cWhen I hugged my dad, I didn\u2019t see him, because he went immediately for the embrace \u2013 but I heard him crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have never seen that man cry in my life. My mum, I knew she was going to cry regardless if I won or lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly [I was thinking] nothing. The whole time I was saying to myself, \u2018Oh my goodness, how is this real?\u201d<\/p>\n
From teenage phenomenon to Grand Slam champion<\/h3>\n
Since Gauff burst on to the scene as a 15-year-old phenomenon at Wimbledon in 2019, there have been expectations she would eventually become a Grand Slam champion.<\/p>\n
Now, following a significant but steady rise as she got to grips with the professional tour, she has become the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.<\/p>\n
What makes it more remarkable is the way Gauff has turned her form around after a deflating first-round exit at Wimbledon in July.<\/p>\n
Gauff has restored confidence in her groundstrokes, as well as developing an unwavering belief she can still turn matches around even when she is not playing well.<\/p>\n
That was the key to grinding her way back into contention against Sabalenka.<\/p>\n
Gauff\u2019s forehand has come under scrutiny and Sabalenka particularly attacked that wing in the early stages when she broke on the way to a 2-1 lead.<\/p>\n
Both players were unable to find their best level in a strange first set, the pair exchanging three more breaks of serve before Sabalenka sealed the opener with Gauff not offering enough consistency in the rallies.<\/p>\n
After needing to save two break points in the first game, Gauff improved considerably in the second set.<\/p>\n
She defended the baseline with incredible athleticism and anticipation, returning much better to force Sabalenka into mistakes.<\/p>\n
A double fault from the Belarusian on a break point handed over a 3-1 lead, with Gauff growing in confidence to close out the set and level.<\/p>\n
Momentum continued with Gauff in the deciding set, two early breaks putting the teenager in command before she confidently served out to love.<\/p>\n
It was the third time over the past fortnight \u2013 following an opening win against German qualifier Laura Siegemund and a third-round victory over Belgian 32nd seed Elise Mertens \u2013 where she has fought back to win.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely she was moving just unbelievable,\u201d said Sabalenka, whose 46 unforced errors outweighed 24 winners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second set I start probably overthinking and because of that I started losing my power. Then she started moving better and I started missing a lot of easy shots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good news is that it\u2019s me against me. The bad one is that I\u2019m still having these issues playing against myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m burning so bright now\u2019 \u2013 Gauff tells doubters<\/h3>\n
Gauff\u2019s victory is the culmination of an outstanding North American hard-court swing, where she won the biggest titles of her career in Washington and Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
Since the Wimbledon defeat, she has recovered by winning 18 of her 19 matches and beating Sabalenka is a career-best 12th victory in a row.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to say \u2018thank you\u2019 to the people who didn\u2019t believe in me,\u201d Gauff said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA month ago I won a WTA 500 title [in Washington] and people said I would stop at that.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo weeks ago I won a 1000 title [in Cincinnati] and people were saying that was the biggest title I would get.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree weeks later, I\u2019m here with this trophy right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried my best to carry on with grace but, honestly, to those who thought you were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m burning so bright right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2018A star is born\u2019 and \u2018a great champion\u2019 \u2013 reaction<\/h3>\n
There was no shortage of praise for Gauff following her breakthrough victory in front of a raucous New York crowd, with those present at Arthur Ashe Stadium and many others watching on from afar celebrating the teenager\u2019s triumph.<\/p>\n
Among them was former US president Barack Obama, who congratulated her on social media, adding: \u201cWe couldn\u2019t be prouder of you on and off the court \u2013 and we know your best is yet to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Compatriot and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens called Gauff \u201camazing\u201d, while boxing legend Mike Tyson said: \u201cCoco! You did it! America and the world are celebrating!\u201d<\/p>\n
Commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, American former player Jeff Tarango said: \u201cHow eloquent she was when she was talking [in her post-match interview]. She\u2019s the perfect poster-child. A star is born.\u201d<\/p>\n
And former British number one Annabel Croft added: \u201cI think people expected a lot from her and she\u2019s had to cope with enormous amounts of pressure. It was unusual to hear her have a little bit of a pop back at people but I think it also showed there is steel there in her character, which is why she\u2019s become a great champion.\u201d<\/p>\n
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