The great promise of women’s tennis Coco Gauff sent a message to those who doubted her elite level after winning the 2023 US Open at just 19 years old.
“Honestly, thanks to the people who didn’t believe in me,” she said on the court after beating Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the final by 2-6, 6-3 and 6-2 in two hours and six minutes.
“A month ago I won a WTA 500 (Washington) and there were people who said that I would stop there. Two weeks ago I won a Masters 1,000 (Cincinnati) and there were people who said that was the most I would win. Three weeks later, I am here with this trophy (…) to all those who thought they were pouring water on my fire, in reality they were pouring gasoline on it and now I am burning very brightly,” he stated.
“Thank you, you believed in me from the beginning. I had been coming to this tournament since I was a little girl and I would sit there watching Venus and Serena (Williams) compete. So it’s incredible to be on this stage now,” added the American tennis player.
He also praised Sabalenka, whom he defined as an “incredible” tennis player and who he assured deserves to be number one in the WTA.
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