US Open 2023 final: Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka – as it happened

Despite Sabalenka looking on course to win the entire thing in straight sets, Gauff rallied superbly to come back and win a maiden Grand Slam title in front of her adoring fans.

The American won the match largely thanks to a superior first-serve win percentage of 66 percent to Sabalenka’s 52 percent, while also committing far fewer unforced errors – 19 to 46.

Sabalenka rightfully takes the throne as World No. 1, once the WTA rankings are updated, while Gauff will go up to World No. 3 with this momentous win.

It is the first Grand Slam for the 19-year-old but one gets a sense there are more in her destiny as she continues to develop and improve.

With 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz weaving his magic in the men’s game, tennis as a whole has a very bright future.

Thank you for keeping us company today and do make sure to join us again tomorrow as we cover the men’s singles final between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.

Two is not a winner and three nobody remembers. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/QBGvaD0MfI

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

A joyous Gauff offers her take on today’s match: “It means so much to me winning at home. I feel like I am in a little bit of shock at this moment. The French Open loss [last year] definitely hurt me. Those moments make this one even more sweeter.

“I don’t pray for results. I ask that I get the strength to give it my all. I am thankful for this moment. I have no words for it to be honest,” she said.

“I knew if I didn’t give it my all, I had no shot of winning. Aryna is an incredible player and congratulations on your number one ranking. I tell everyone that you are a nice person behind the scenes. It makes the sport better. Congratulations to you and your team.”

Coco got the hardware! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bLPHK9aHk0

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

A visibly despondent Sabalenka shares her thoughts at the presentation ceremony: “I am proud that I was able to handle my emotions most of the times [this year]. I focused on myself and not the ranking. That was the best thing about this year.

“I want to congratulate Coco and your team. You guys deserve this title. Many more to come I am sure. I hope we play in many more finals. Hopefully a different result the next time [laughs],” she said.

“My family has been awake and watching. Sorry for this result [laughs]. We will come back stronger.”

The new world no. 1, Aryna Sabalenka! 👏 pic.twitter.com/FTFeupiq56

— Relevant Tennis (@RelevantTennis) September 9, 2023

It’s all about the company you keep. 😄 pic.twitter.com/S59CgrtmoZ

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

All the moments led to this! Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam champion! pic.twitter.com/kH3pCgm3RU

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

Sabalenka ends up going long once more in this must-win game.

She miscues a cheeky drop shot from the baseline into the net to put Gauff within two points of the title.

An attempted rising backhand smash to the left side ends up missing the sideline completely, which means Gauff has triple championship points.

Gauff then seals it with a lovely passing backhand shot to the right of Sabalenka to be crowned a first-time Grand Slam winner, and that too at home!

The 19-year-old immediately looks for her family’s box as she climbs up the stands.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Sabalenka

Sabalenka looks to be on a roll as she sends a powerful forehand, which is just too good for her opponent.

She does release some pressure after overhitting her return to make it 15-all.

She ends up going wide again after a 20-shot rally which has the partisan crowd in raptures as they sense a momentum shift once more.

Sabalenka then double-faults as Gauff gets two crucial break points to be within a game away from winning the US Open.

Gauff finishes her off with a forehand smash down the right side after a lengthy rally bringing the crowd once again to their feet.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 5-2 Sabalenka

Gauff sends a backhand into the net as a revitalised Sabalenka hopes for a change in fortune.

However, another overhit baseline winner ends up tying the scores at 15-all.

Gauff then returns the favour to make it 15-30.

Sabalenka goes up a double break as she approaches the net to fire a forehand winner down the left side.

Gauff affords a rare break to her opponent after over-extending her return.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 4-2 Sabalenka

It looks like her left thigh is being attended to as she receives treatment on the sidelines.

With Gauff in a commanding position, one wonders if this is also a tactic to try and break the momentum.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 4-1 Sabalenka

The body language of Sabalenka says it all, but she does go up to 30-0 early to try and win the first game in this third set.

She follows with a booming ace down the middle, before double-faulting to allow Gauff back into the game.

She overhits a baseline return down the right side and soon battles back tears realising Gauff is just a point away from sending this to deuce.

A wicked two-handed backhand across Gauff to the left side ends the game in Sabalenka’s favour.

Soon after, the physio is called out as it appears the Belarusian is dealing with an ailment of sorts.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 4-1 Sabalenka

Sabalenka finishes a testing rally with a forehand smash down the right side to make it 0-15.

The Belarusian does well to make it 15-30, but fails to put away Gauff as the American’s defence once again comes to the rescue with a backhand winner down the left side to square the scores.

A long return from Sabalenka means Gauff is just two games away now from securing a maiden Grand Slam title in front of her adoring fans.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 4-0 Sabalenka

Gauff is winning the mental battle here at Arthur Ashe Stadium as Sabalenka commits another unforced error to put her down 0-15 early.

A wild baseline return goes well over as Sabalenka gestures to her box. Gauff has won the last 15 of the 21 points played.

Gauff ends up going long herself to allow the Belarusian into the game at 15-30.

Another wild return over the left sideline squares it at 30-all.

Sabalenka, who looked to be finding her ground, ends up going well wide off the left sideline to allow Gauff a break-point opportunity.

Gauff successfully breaks after Sabalenka’s baseline return goes long once more.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 3-0 Sabalenka

Sabalenka sends a fierce cross-court winner down the right side to make it 0-15.

She then ends up going wide off the left sideline to make it 15-all.

Her bad luck continues as her attempted forehand clips the net before landing out of bounds on the right side.

Gauff takes advantage as she sends her opponent ragged on the court before a weary backhand return falls well wide to make it 15-40.

Gauff then successfully breaks to take a significant 2-0 lead in the third set.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 2-0 Sabalenka

Sabalenka starts the third set strong, with a powerful forehand down the right side after tiring out Gauff.

Gauff defends well after two attempted smashes down the left side before Sabalenka miscues a third into the net to make it 15-all.

Sabalenka makes it 30-15 with a backhand winner across Gauff on the left side.

Another unforced error into the net from the Belarusian squares the game once more.

Gauff earns a break point after Sabalenka’s attempted baseline return goes long.

Sabalenka takes it to deuce after Gauff, despite her best efforts, is unable to get to a forehand smash down the left side.

An unforced error into the net gives Gauff advantage.

Gauff powers through after approaching the net and sending a return lob with a forehand smash down the right side.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 Sabalenka

Gauff places a lovely forehand winner down the left sideline, which is just too good for the Belarusian, to make it 15-0.

Sabalenka is able to tie it up once more before Gauff’s serve proves too hot to handle as the score goes to 30-15.

Gauff makes it 40-15 after sending Sabalenka deep to the baseline before finishing her off with a smash down the left side after coming up to the net.

Sabalenka’s return goes long as Gauff wins the second set 6-3 to ensure this match goes the distance.

Sabalenka had 16 unforced errors to Gauff’s seven, while also only winning 62 percent of her first serves compared with Gauff’s 81 percent.

Gauff 2-6, 6-3 Sabalenka

Gauff sends a forehand way down the right side of the court to give Sabalenka a 15-0 lead.

Gauff then follows with a misjudged sideline winner down the right.

She approaches the net and comes back with a strong forehand down the right side to make it 30-15.

Sabalenka comes back with a solid right-side forehand winner, but Gauff makes it 40-30 after her opponent’s forehand lob fails to land within the lines.

Sabalenka rescues the situation soon after, to close the gap to 5-3, with Gauff serving next for an opportunity to take this final to three sets.

Gauff 2-6, 5-3 Sabalenka

Gauff begins with a double fault as has been the case in a few of her other service games already.

Sabalenka is unable to add pressure as she sends her backhand into the net to make it 15-all.

Another forced backhand finds the net as Gauff goes up 30-15.

Sabalenka misses another backhand down the right side to put Gauff just one point away from making it 5-2.

Gauff holds on after a mistimed forehand down the right side to put her a game away from winning the second set.

Gauff 2-6, 5-2 Sabalenka

Sabalenka, with the set slipping away, doesn’t start her service game ideally as she ends up going long once more on a baseline shot.

She does nail a lovely two-handed backhand down the right side to level the scores.

She powers a smash down the same side to take a 30-15 lead.

However, another attempted smash ends up finding the net to make it 30-all.

What follows is perhaps the best passage of tennis yet as the crowd cheers on a presumed backhand lob winner by Gauff, which sends Sabalenka deep to the baseline, before she uncorks a beauty of a lob of her own which just evades the American to make it 40-30.

Sabalenka rides the crest as Gauff commits an unforced error to reduce the gap to 4-2 in the second.

Gauff 2-6, 4-2 Sabalenka

Gauff’s forehand crashes into the net to give her opponent a 0-15 edge.

Sabalenka fails to control a backhand return as the game is tied.

The Belarusian enjoys a stroke of luck after her return clips the top of the net before just clipping the sideline, which surprises Gauff, but an unforced error follows as the game is tied once more at 30-all.

Gauff’s backhand goes well over to give Sabalenka a vital break-point chance to get back into this set.

Sabalenka’s forehand clips the net which sends the ball over past the right sideline to send the game to deuce.

She then fails to put away Gauff with a smash down the left side to give her opponent the advantage.

She holds successfully after an errant baseline return to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the second set.

Gauff 2-6, 4-1 Sabalenka

Sabalenka hits beyond the baseline to allow her opponent the early lead in the game. Gauff returns the favour with an unforced error into the net to square it at 15-all.

Sabalenka sends down a kick serve which Gauff is unable to control to make it 30-15. However, the Belarusian goes long on the next point to once again level the game.

Sabalenka displays her speed as Gauff entices her with a drop shot into the right service box before the Belarusian smashes a volley across the American to make it 40-30.

Gauff pulls off a lovely backhand passing shot to an attempted drop shot from Sabalenka to put the game into deuce, sending the raucous partisan crowd on their feet.

Gauff lands a fierce forehand to a strong second serve from Sabalenka to give her break point.

The American is able to hold on after her opponent double faults to earn a valuable break in this second set.

Gauff 2-6, 3-1 Sabalenka

Gauff begins with an unceremonious double fault.

She ties it up 15-all after Sabalenka’s unforced error. She rides on the wave to make it 40-15 after strong back-to-back serves.

Sabalenka takes advantage of a second serve to smash a forehand which rushes Gauff as she looked to return.

But the Belarusian is unable to make any further headway as she commits another unforced error off a return to give Gauff a 2-1 lead.

Gauff 2-6, 2-1 Sabalenka

The players trade blows as the game is squared at 15-all.

Sabalenka issues a vicious cross-court winner down the right side as the American went left to make it 30-15.

Gauff is unable to control a testing two-handed backhand on the right side to send it to 40-15.

The game ends with a failed sideline winner down the right side from Gauff as the second set is levelled at 1-1.

Gauff 2-6, 1-1 Sabalenka

After a short toilet break, Gauff comes back on to serve for the first game of the second set.

It doesn’t start promisingly as she double faults to make it 0-15.

Sabalenka nails a fantastic winner down the right sideline to make it 0-30. She ends up committing an unforced error to make it 15-30.

Gauff double faults for a second time to give her opponent a double-break chance.

Gauff wins the next two points to send the game to deuce.

Sabalenka’s baseline return ends up long to give Gauff the advantage.

A rushed forehand into the net gives Gauff a vital lead in what is a must-win set for the American.

Gauff 2-6, 1-0 Sabalenka

Gauff crashes a backhand into the net to put Sabalenka just three points away from winning this first set.

She follows with a fiery ace to the left of Gauff to make it 30-0.

Sabalenka has a rush of blood on a forehand baseline return to allow Gauff back into the game at 30-15.

The Belarusian shows some dexterous touch with a precise drop shot down the left side to make it 40-15.

Sabalenka is unnerved by a backhand return which clips the net, wrong-footing her as she tries to return, but finds the net.

Sabalenka holds serve successfully after Gauff’s unforced error to put her within one set of being crowned the 2023 US Open women’s singles champion.

Gauff 2-6 Sabalenka

Both players exchange blows to make it 15-all.

Gauff miscues a baseline return to make it 15-30 before mistiming a forehand down the right side to give Sabalenka a double-break opportunity.

Sabalenka earns a right to serve for the first set after the American commits another unforced error to end the game.

Gauff 2-5 Sabalenka

Sabalenka falters after failing to finish off Gauff down the right side to make it 0-15.

Gauff ends up just wide of the left service box to level it 15-all.

Sabalenka’s second serve kicks enough off the ground to trouble Gauff as her forehand return goes just over. The Belarusian fails to seize the opportunity as the game goes to 30-all after an unforced error on the baseline.

Sabalenka is unable to put away Gauff down the right side as Gauff earns a crucial break point.

The Belarusian sets up Gauff by sending her wide down the right side before landing a well-placed baseline winner on the left to make it deuce.

Sabalenka errs on her length as she tries to clip the right baseline, with Gauff earning advantage. She follows with a 116 mph (186 km/h) serve straight down the middle to return it to deuce.

A wonderful passage of play follows as Gauff defends well despite being sent back and forth across the court.

An attempted smash is rescued down the left side with a lobbed return but Sabalenka ensures the second chance is nailed as Gauff is unable to get to it, giving Sabalenka the advantage.

Sabalenka emits a loud scream as Gauff’s return goes just beyond to make it 4-2.

Gauff 2-4 Sabalenka

There is a momentum shift here as Sabalenka goes down 30-0 early. She is able to earn a reprieve at 30-15 thanks to a mistimed return from Gauff into the net.

Gauff goes long to make it 30-30, and then gives Sabalenka a break chance after crashing a forehand into the net.

The American sends it to deuce with an emphatic forehand down the left side.

She finds the net once more to give Sabalenka the advantage.

Sabalenka errs on a volley after a lengthy rally as she looked to finish off Gauff after approaching the net.

The Belarusian recovers though after Gauff goes just wide of the baseline to take advantage once more.

Sabalenka successfully breaks after Gauff’s return finds the net to take a 3-2 lead in the opening set.

Gauff 2-3 Sabalenka

Sabalenka’s forehand just goes wide off the right sideline to make it 0-15.

She then double faults to give her opponent a decisive 30-0 lead and a chance to break.

However, the soon-to-be world number one is able to place a delightful winner down the left side to make it 15-30.

The pressure is starting to show though as she commits a third double fault, and the second of this individual game, to allow Gauff a double break point opportunity.

Gauff is unable to contain a kick serve from the Belarusian to make it 30-40.

But she ends up levelling the scores after Sabalenka hits into the net after looking to smash a forehand down the right side.

Gauff 2-2 Sabalenka

Gauff starts well by going up 30-0 on her opponent before misfiring a return to make it 30-15.

A wonderful forehand which falls just inside makes it 40-15, before Gauff wins her first game after a misjudged Sabalenka forehand into the net.

Gauff 1-2 Sabalenka

Sabalenka begins strongly after Gauff’s lobbed return ends up going over the baseline.

Another overhit return by the American gives her a 30-0 lead.

Sabalenka fires in a sharp serve which Gauff is unable to control as she hits into the net to make it 40-0.

A double fault from the Belarusian extends Gauff a glimmer of hope at 40-15.

However, a return which just goes wide of the right service box gives Sabalenka a 2-0 lead in the opening set.

Gauff 0-2 Sabalenka

Sabalenka goes up 0-15 after Gauff’s return just goes wide. Gauff ties it up before allowing her opponent a 30-15 edge with a wild return which heads into the stands.

Sabalenka errs with her range as she looks to clip the left sideline.

She goes up 40-30 soon after to earn a break point, but the American is able to make it deuce after Sabalenka misjudges a backhand volley into the net.

The Belarusian earns advantage with a lovely winner down the right side which is just too good for Gauff.

Sabalenka succeeds in going up an early break to put pressure on the American.

Gauff 0-1 Sabalenka

The American wins the toss and will serve first in what should hopefully be a pulsating final.

Gauff and Sabalenka make their way out to the court to polite applause.

Play is just minutes away from beginning.

It’s all come to this!

Gauff 🆚 Sabalenka

Walkouts Presented by @MountSinaiNYC pic.twitter.com/IzrPchFcwu

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

American vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant makes her way out to sing, America the Beautiful, to a sell-out Arthur Ashe Stadium.

With rain and lightning in the New York City area, the roof has been closed as a precaution.

Final tune-ups complete ✅

🏆🔜 pic.twitter.com/ztDNSmjEIK

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2023

The American’s journey to this point has been a bit of a mixed bag.

She needed three sets to overcome her first- and third-round opponents, before once again being taken the distance by former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the Round of 16.

Gauff made light work of Jelena Ostapenko in the quarters before facing a tough semifinal against world number 10 Karolina Muchova, where she ultimately triumphed 6-4, 7-5.

Coco Gauff is back in a Grand Slam final. pic.twitter.com/LRH7zkIG3g

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Regardless of how the match concludes, Sabalenka is poised to take over the number-one spot from Swiatek.

Her run to the final has been largely unencumbered.

She managed to cruise all the way to the semifinals without dropping a set.

In that match, she needed two tiebreak wins to come back from a set down against Madison Keys, which ultimately prevented the opportunity for the home crowd to witness an All-American final.

Don’t look now, Aryna. You’re in the #USOpen final! pic.twitter.com/tXNvwbWwIC

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

This is Coco Gauff in 2012 dancing at the US Open when she was 8 years old.

But today, she looks to win her first Grand Slam as the youngest American US Open finalist since Serena Williams in 1999.

Life is crazy.pic.twitter.com/QAtd1hWkZC

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) September 9, 2023

Gauff enjoys a slender advantage over Sabalenka going into today’s finale with a 3-2 record.

However, the Belarusian was on the winning side of things in their most recent encounter at the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals in Indian Wells.

Sabalenka ended up triumphing 6-4, 6-0 on that occasion, before falling to Elena Rybakina in the final.

US Open Women’s Final 2023 🏆

Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka

Coco leads the H2H 3-2, but Saba won their last meeting at Indian Wells this year 6-4 6-0. 👀

Who are YOU picking as your champion? 🤔#USOpen #USOpen2023 pic.twitter.com/nES7VYveXH

— GAME TO LOVE (@GTLTennis) September 9, 2023

Sabalenka has enjoyed a rather sterling 2023 herself.

She won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, before reaching consecutive semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon.

If she produces the kind of level she exhibited in the Melbourne final earlier this year, her prospects of winning will significantly improve.

However, she will be up against a partisan crowd who will be firmly behind her opposing home-grown rival.

Australian Open ✅
US Open ✅

It’s a second Grand Slam final for Aryna Sabalenka! pic.twitter.com/ySevgWrafA

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

This is only the second time Gauff has reached the final of a Grand Slam, after losing out to Poland’s Iga Swiatek in last year’s French Open.

The World number six has been in terrific form this past season.

She has picked up three titles this year, including most recently last month’s Cincinnati Open, where she overcame Karolina Muchova in straight sets.

The youngest player ever to win the Cincinnati Open 🏆

Coco Gauff is a star ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/zJyRKBHBOF

— highlightHER (@HighlightHER) August 20, 2023

Here is a brief look:

How Coco Gauff reached her first US Open final 👀@IBM | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/qLraL6DYzM

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Sabalenka's road to a 2nd Grand Slam final this year ⤵️@IBM | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/ojFmS3aeZR

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

According to research conducted by the Associated Press:

• From 1988 to 1992, daily highs in the thermal comfort index passed the threshold for strong heat stress, which is 90 F (32 C), on 7 percent of days with Grand Slam matches. From 2018 to 2022 that figure was 16 percent.
• The US Open’s overall rise of nearly 3F (1.5 C) since 1988 means it isn’t even the Grand Slam site where the heat is increasing most rapidly. That’s the Australian Open, where the average high temperatures jumped by more than 6 F (about 3.5 C).
• Still, the US Open often was the hottest of the four majors in any given year.

Players can tell.

• “I remember the year I won, the last four days it was super hot and super humid,” said 2016 US Open champion Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. “It’s one of the toughest tournaments, fitness-wise … Your body really loses a lot of energy.”

The US Open’s spot late in the tennis season creates an accumulation of wear and tear, and general fatigue, but the sweltering conditions at Flushing Meadows likely deserve some blame for a high number of in-match retirements there.

“We’re seeing a lot more heat-related illnesses across all sports,” said Elan Goldwaser, a sports medicine physician at Columbia University Medical Center who works with athletes on the US ski team and at Fordham University.

The blue hard courts at the US Open absorb heat more than the grass at Wimbledon or the clay at the French Open, making it feel as much as 15 degrees F (about 8 C) hotter than the air temperature, according to the US Tennis Association. Athletes “are essentially playing on a hot plate,” Goldwaser said.

“Their ability to hit the ball as hard starts to go down. Their reaction time starts to go down,” said Jon Femling, the clinical vice chair of emergency medicine at the University of New Mexico.

“Getting heated up, your body’s first response is to try and cool down, and the way it does that is by pumping blood to all of your skin. … Your heart just has to immediately start working harder.”

American Coco Gauff said she held no animosity towards the protesters who interrupted her US Open semifinal match against Karolina Muchova on Thursday, though she did think their timing could have been a lot better.

The sixth seed beat Czech Muchova 6-4 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the championship match at Flushing Meadows for the first time and continue her terrific season.

Three people were escorted out of the venue without further incident but a fourth “affixed their bare feet to the floor” of the stadium, the USTA said.

“It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it,” Gauff said. “Obviously I don’t want it to happen when I’m winning up 6-4 1-0, and I wanted the momentum to keep going.

“But hey, if that’s what they felt they needed to do to get their voices heard, I can’t really get upset at it.”

Coco Gauff

Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka fought back from the brink of defeat to overcome American 17th seed Madison Keys in a third-set tie-break and line up a US Open final against home favourite Gauff.

Keys served for the match in the second set, but incoming world number one Sabalenka overhauled the 2017 runner-up to win 0-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (10/5) to reach her second Grand Slam final.

“I’m really proud of myself that I was able to turn around this game and get this win because it was just incredible,” said Sabalenka.

“I was just, like, ‘Come on, keep trying, keep pushing, like, I don’t know, do something extra. Just try to turn around this match.’

“It really means a lot to be in the final of the US Open for the first time,” she added.

Aryna Sabalenka won this match. pic.twitter.com/70rrh7MoBX

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Serena Williams may be one year into her retirement but American teenager Coco Gauff will be proudly carrying the tennis icon’s legacy when she takes on Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.

Twelve months after Williams signed off from a 27-year professional career that yielded 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the 19-year-old Gauff is on the threshold of winning her first major championship.

During her march to Saturday’s final, Gauff has parried away suggestions that she is the “new Serena Williams”, making it clear that her idol’s achievements may never be matched.

“Serena is Serena,” Gauff said following her semifinal victory over Karolina Muchova on Thursday. “She’s the GOAT (Greatest of all time). I’d hope to do half of what she did.”

But the teenager makes no secret of the fact that Williams was instrumental in inspiring her to pick up a racquet and pursue her dreams.

“I think really just the way she was able to transform a sport that’s predominantly white,” Gauff has said. “That’s something that as a little girl – and even now – meant a lot to me.

The Belarusian won the Australian Open to kick off a superb 2023, beat Gauff en route to the Indian Wells final and defeated Iga Swiatek in the Madrid title match.

The Roland Garros and Wimbledon semifinalist ended Swiatek’s long reign as world number one thanks to a terrific New York campaign, where she did not drop a set until her late-night semifinal battle against American Madison Keys.

Sabalenka recovered from a demoralising 6-0 first set loss to beat the 2017 finalist Keys in a fightback for the ages after scarcely facing much of a challenge earlier in the tournament.

Relying on her booming forehand and powerful serve – she has sent more than 32 aces in the tournament so far – Sabalenka overwhelmed 13th seed Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round and left China’s Zheng Qinwen with no answers in the quarterfinal.

“Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight. You have to fight for it,” said Sabalenka, who reached the semifinals in the previous two editions of the tournament.

What a turnaround for Aryna Sabalenka! pic.twitter.com/IGO1JWUYuv

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Ever since Coco Gauff announced her arrival with a remarkable Grand Slam debut at age 15, she’s been in the spotlight. Just about everyone in tennis recognised her talent, her smarts, drive, and ability to step up on big stages.

Everyone, perhaps, except Gauff herself. Even as victories accumulated, including the two biggest titles of her career last month in the run-up to the US Open, she would wonder whether she just happened to catch opponents on a bad day.

But now, even Gauff is starting to believe. The 19-year-old from Florida is one victory away from her first major championship – and Gauff will have 23,000 or so of her closest friends backing her in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It’s still definitely a part of me, but I do think I’m giving myself more credit more,” Gauff said on Thursday night after beating Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 on her sixth match point in a semifinal interrupted for 50 minutes in the second set by protesters concerned about the role of fossil fuels in climate change.

“And speaking things into existence is real. I’ve been trying to speak more positively of myself and actually telling myself that I’m a great player.”

Coco has more work to do 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/3Onxv2EKTE

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2023

Thanks for joining us for the women’s US Open 2023 final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

The women’s single final is set to start at 4pm Eastern Time (20:00 GMT).

American teenager Coco Gauff can expect a capacity crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium to be in her corner as she fights formidable second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka is already assured the number one spot in the new rankings after the tournament but does not expect an easy road to a second Grand Slam title this year, with vocal home fans hungry to see sixth seed Gauff collect her maiden major title.

“Of course, I would prefer to have someone else or (the) crowd would be a little bit probably like the same to both players,” Sabalenka said with a smile.

“I’m still hoping that probably some of them will be supporting me. Will be just a little bit. Just sometimes, please. Please.”

Aryna Sabalenka has a message for the US Open crowd ahead of the final against Coco Gauff:

“I’m still hoping probably some of them will be supporting me. Just a little bit. Just sometimes… please.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/LssbR2d2RR

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 8, 2023

The Belarusian won the Australian Open to kick off a superb 2023, beat Gauff en route to the Indian Wells final and defeated Iga Swiatek in the Madrid title match.

Gauff has produced the best tennis of her career this season, winning in Washington before downing Poland’s Swiatek in a breakthrough victory en route to her biggest title in Cincinnati last month.

The terrific run surprised even the 19-year-old, who had all but given up on her season after she crashed out in the first round at Wimbledon.

“When I had that at Wimbledon, I was really sort of thinking for off-season and preparing for next year,” she told reporters.

“Even after DC, didn’t think this would happen. Even after Cincy, I didn’t think this would happen. I’m really proud of myself … there is still a long ways to go.”