US Open 2023 Final Highlights: Coco Gauff defeats Aryna Sabalenka to become Grand Slam champion at 19

Welcome to Khel Now's live blog for the Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka match in women's singles final of US Open 2023.

Home favourite and teenager Cori Coco Gauff will face Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles final at US Open 2023 on September 9 (Saturday). This will be the duo’s maiden final at the US Open. However, while 19-year-old Gauff is chasing her first-ever tennis major, Belarusian Sabalenka became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Sabalenka, 25, will also become the new WTA No. 1 when the updated rankings are released next week. And she will want to get there as a two-time grand slam winner. Gauff, on the other hand, is chasing to become the first American woman to lift the home major since Sloane Stephens beat compatriot Madison Keys in 2017.

Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka preview

The second-seeded Sabalenka defeated Madison Keys in three sets in the semis to make her maiden final at Flushing Meadows after consecutive semi-final exits in the previous two editions. After conceding the first set, the Belarusian recovered to defeat the veteran US star with the scores of 0-6, 7-6(1), 7-6(10-5).

Sabalenka’s record in the 2023 grand slams is 23-2 in win-loss. After starting the season with the Australian Open win, she also reached the semifinals at Wimbledon and Roland Garros. Her win over Keys also made Sabalenka only the third woman in Open Era to win a grand slam semi-final despite dropping the opening set 6-0.

Gauff, on the other hand, defeated Karolina Muchova in straight sets (6-4, 7-5) to reach her first final at Flushing Meadows. With 11 straight victories, sixth seed Gauff has the best winning streak of her career. By reaching the championship match, Gauff has become the youngest American woman to compete in the US Open final since Serena Williams in 1999.

The American, who had just last month won the biggest championship of her career by defeating Muchova in the Cincinnati final, gathered motivation from the jubilant home fans to outperform the Czech player once more.

Head-to-head records 

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have met five times on tour level competition and the teenager from America leads the head-to-head records 3-2. However, their last encounter — which was in the Indian Wells Masters’ quarterfinals — ended in favour of the Belarusian who won 6-4, 6-0.

Prediction 

The 25-year-old Belarussian, who will replace Iga Swiatek as the World No. 1 player after the competition, has been in brilliant form in New York. This year Sabalenka has competed in four significant championship matches. She brought some of her very best to the court in three of the four (though even Indian Wells had its moments).

In the US Open 2023 semifinals, Sabalenka’s comeback was nothing short of extraordinary. Throughout the entire season, she has improved when it matters most.

On the other hand, Coco Gauff is no ordinary teen, and that much has been very clear for a while. At this point, she only needs one more victory to capture the Grand Slam. She finished as runners-up in the 2022 French Open and is going for her maiden Grand Slam victory. With her aggressive serve and improved forehand variety and consistency, Gauff has significantly improved her game.

Whoever can maintain their finest form for the longest will prevail in this championship game. However, the crowd’s favourite will be the American fighting for a first grand slam title on home ground.