Sixth-seeded Coco Gauff is headed for her second career Grand Slam final, as the 19-year-old Florida native beat 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 7-5 in the semifinals of the U.S. Open on Thursday in New York.
Gauff’s opponent for the title match on Saturday will be either second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or 17th-seeded Madison Keys of the United States, who were set to play the second semifinal late Thursday night.
In her only previous major final, Gauff lost to Poland’s Iga Swiatek at the 2022 French Open. She is the youngest American woman to reach the U.S. Open final since Serena Williams in 1999.
Gauff slammed a winner at the net to end a 40-shot rally for her sixth match point. Muchova’s unforced error on the next point ended the contest.
“I grew up watching this tournament so much, so it means a lot to be in the final,” Gauff said on court in her postmatch interview. “A lot to celebrate, but you know the job is not done so hopefully (the fans) can back me on Saturday.”
The teen added that she wasn’t sure she would watch the Sabalenka-Keys match, saying she might watch some anime instead.
Muchova, who reached her first Grand Slam final in Paris this year, was hurt by committing 36 unforced errors to Gauff’s 25. Muchova’s slight edge in winners, 15-13, wasn’t enough to compensate.
Gauff continued her hot summer. Since losing in the first round at Wimbledon, she won the title in Washington early last month, got to the quarterfinals in Montreal and won the championship in Cincinnati prior to arriving in New York.
–Field Level Media