The U.S. Open, held at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, NY, between Aug 28 and Sept 10, was filled with high-stakes competition, rivalries and thrilling yet nerve-wrecking matches. In the end, Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the neck-to-neck women’s singles final, and is now a Grand Slam champion at just 19 years old.
Gauff dominated seven matches and earned the first place title. Gauff’s championship holds the record for the most watched Grand Slam final with nearly 3.4 millions views. The road to this finals victory, though, was not stress-free for Gauff. Her first match, competing against German player Laura Siegmund on the opening day of the tournament, caused debates as to the speed of the match. Siegmund complained that Gauff’s movements were so fast, not allowing her to even stop for a towel. In the end, however, Gauff was victorious in the first showdown, ending with set scores of 3-6, 6-2 and 6-4.
The remainder of Gauff’s battles were won seamlessly. The games were always thrilling, but she continued to come out on top. Following the final match of the women’s bracket, Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff’s competition, smashed her racket on the ground in the locker room, causing a scene following her epic loss. This private video was shared online, a breach of information and security in the game. Many have criticized Sabalenka’s meltdown, but her lack of composure may have been warranted in the situation, as she was just a few points away from a grand slam championship, having lost against Gauff with the set scores of 2-6, 6-3, and 6-2.
Barely a legal adult, Gauff serves as an inspiration to many young athletes. She has dominated a commendable championship at such a young age, one that many spend their whole lives working toward. Many students are inspired by Gauff’s poise and talent throughout the competition. She is not even a year older than some West Essex students, showing the endless possibilities for their success.
“Coco inspires me because I know if I work really hard at what I am passionate about then I will be able to do anything I strive for,” Ellie Holinstat, a freshman member of the West Essex Junior Varsity Girls Tennis Team, said. “It is a good reminder not to listen to the voices around you, but to listen to the voice inside you that says you can do anything.”
Gauff’s stunning victory at the world class tennis tournament at only 19 years old, the youngest to achieve this feat since Serena Williams won the U.S. Open in 1999 at 17, inspires teenagers and tennis players worldwide to follow their dreams and show them that it is possible.
Photo credit: “Coco Gauff” by Bo Mertz is licensed under (CC BY-SA 2.0).
