This past weekend, 19-year-old Coco Gauff made history by becoming the first American teenager to win the U.S. Open in 24 years. Gauff won against 25-year-old Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and received her first Grand Slam title.
The beginning of the match did not seem to be in Gauff’s favor. The teenager seemed to be floundering during the opening set and was not able to even out the score until nearly an hour and a half later. Despite this, Gauff was able to gain the upper hand against Sabalenka nearly 30 minutes later.
Overwhelmed by her victory, Gauff fell to her knees on the court ground and sobbed as cheers echoed throughout the packed stadium. Soon after collecting herself, the 19-year-old was seen running straight into her parents’ arms and rejoicing.
The significance of her win is amplified when considering how Gauff established her fame in 2019 as a then 15-year-old. Her rise to notoriety is attributed to her unexpected win against tennis legend Venus Williams, sister to Serena Williams, whom Gauff is now joining as the only teenagers to have won titles at the U.S. Open.
