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Queens, N.Y.: Coco Gauff holding her trophy after defeating Aryna Sabalenka to win her first grand slam in the the Women’s Singles US Open Tennis Championships at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow, Queens, New York on Sept. 9, 2023 (Photo by J. Conrad Williams Jr./Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Nineteen-year-old tennis phenom Coco Gauff claimed her first major victory in decisive fashion at the U.S. Open on Sept. 9.
The victory placed Gauff in the same sentence as her idol, Serena Williams. The last time an American teenager won the tournament was by a then-19-year-old Serena Williams. As PBS Newshour reported, Gauff took the time after letting out a trademark yell immediately following her game point to thank her haters in the post-match interview.
“Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me. Like a month ago, I won a (tour) title, and people said I would stop at that. Two weeks ago, I won a (tour) title, and people were saying that was the biggest it was going to get. So three weeks later, I’m here with this trophy right now,” Gauff said. “Tried my best to carry this with grace, and I’ve been doing my best, so honestly, to those who thought they were putting water in my fire: You were really adding gas to it, and now it’s really burning so bright right now.”
Coco is burning bright now 🗣 pic.twitter.com/yWfHHbjNPE
Source: Black Enterprise
