Coco Gauff has opened up about her shock of winning the US Open title, stating she “couldn’t breathe” after the match ended. Gauff defeated the current world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday, to become the highest-ranked American woman in tennis at No 3.
Her victory marked the first Grand Slam title of the 19-year-old’s young career to date.
“It’s still crazy. I don’t think it’s digested. Like even last night, I was telling myself, you’re a Grand Slam champion, and I’m like, it doesn’t feel real at all,” Gauff said during an appearance on the Today show. “It felt like it hit all at once because I didn’t want to tell myself it was match points on the match points. I didn’t want to start shaking. So when it happened and it like finally, then it was over. So I was a little bit shocked and I couldn’t breathe either.”
Gauff’s victory was also a significant moment for US tennis, as she became the first American teenager to win the US Open since 17-year-old Serena Williams in 1999. Gauff is also the first American woman to win since Sloane Stephens in 2017.
Gauff has been a record-breaking player since she was just ten years old, when she won the USTA Clay Court National 12-under title, becoming the youngest champion in history. At 15 years old, she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019 as the youngest-ever qualifier, and played her first Grand Slam final at the French Open last year.
Gauff’s early professional start means she has adjusted to her fame over the years, and has become accustomed to the public eye.
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“I feel like this is a big achievement, but honestly, I feel like I’ve been so used to this since I was basically 15 years old in high school, doing online school, just used to it,” she said.
“I mean, I’m sure it might be a much bigger scale now because of this achievement, but I’m ready. I mean, I embrace it. I know how to keep my peace but also embrace all of this around me.”
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