It was the 2023 US Open final. Coco Gauff hoped to end a six-year wait for an American to be crowned as a champion after Sloane Stephens had won the title back in 2017. The American sensation was up against Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed and a hot favorite to win the title there. However, with the support of her home crowd, Gauff fulfilled not just her dream but also that of millions of Americans. As she readies to defend her title in a few days, Gauff reminisced about the biggest win of her career.

Gauff’s US Open victory was historic of sorts. She became the youngest woman to win the title there since her idol, Serena Williams. Gauff was just 19 back then and won that title just months after going past her teenage years. During an interview with Baker Tilly earlier this week, Gauff explained why her maiden US Open win came at the right time as she had just left her teenage years.

The American sensation went on to say, “I won the US Open and I just didn’t feel it. It took me a week to actually realize that happened. I found myself, like crying uncontrollably sometimes, not out of sadness but disbelief. When I started as a teenager, felt like the clock was ticking, just didn’t expect it.”

With her 2023 US Open win, Gauff became the 10th youngest Grand Slam champion in New York in women’s singles. She was 19 years and five months old back then. The youngest women’s singles champion was Tracy Austin, who achieved the same feat when she was 16 years and 8 months old.

Despite Gauff’s success at a young age, she doesn’t intend to stop here. Following her US Open victory, the American sensation hinted at big things in the future.

‘This is just the beginning’ – Coco Gauff after winning the US Open title

Gauff went on to defeat Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set match 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. It was an emotional victory for Gauff, with thousands of supporters inside the stadium cheering for her. Gauff knew the pain of losing the Grand Slam final when she lost in the summit clash of the 2022 French Open and was overjoyed to get over the finishing line.

However, during an interview a few days after winning the title, she made a big revelation about her future plans. Gauff said, “Nothing has changed in my life because I am a Grand Slam champion. I had several parties and events in the days that followed; I went home and spent time with my grandmother, who made me homemade food, but then everything went back to normal.”

Further, she went on to add, “I was a whole week without playing tennis, I had never gone so long without doing it, and the truth is that I ended up bored at home; it was strange not going to train, I know I have a lot of career ahead of me; this is just the beginning.”

Coming to this year’s edition of the US Open, Gauff will have her task cut out to defend her title. Gauff would have to get back into her groove quickly, especially with form not being on her side.