(September 7, 2023) FLUSHING, NY – Coco Gauff became the first teenager since Serena Williams in 2001 to reach the US Open final when she held off No. 10 seed Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 on Thursday night at the US Open in a match interrupted in the second set by climate change protestors.
Gauff was asked about the protest in her news conference: “I think that throughout history moments like this are definitely defining moments. I definitely, I believe, you know, in climate change. I don’t really know exactly what, you know, what they were protesting. I know it was about the environment.
“I 100% believe in that. I think there are things we can do better. I know the tournaments are doing things to do better for the environment. Would I prefer it not happening in my match? 100%, yeah. I’m not gonna sit here and lie (smiling). But it is what it is.
“I had a feeling it was going to happen this tournament. It happened in the French Open, it happened in Wimbledon. So, you know, following the trend, it was definitely going to happen here. I just was hoping it wasn’t in my match, and honestly I thought we made it through.”I had a feeling it was going to happen this tournament. It happened in the French Open, it happened in Wimbledon. So, you know, following the trend, it was definitely going to happen here. I just was hoping it wasn’t in my match, and honestly I thought we made it through.
“But it is what it is. I think that, you know, the moments like this, yeah, are history-defining moments. Like I said, I prefer it not to happen in my match but I wasn’t pissed at the protesters. I know the stadium was because it just interrupted entertainment.
“I always speak about preaching, you know, preaching about what you feel and what you believe in. It was done in a peaceful way, so I can’t get too mad at it. 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.”
As for the match itself: “it was a tough match. You know, I had leads, lost it, and, you know, serving for it. It was a lot of emotional, I guess, challenges in the match. But I think I did a good job of staying focused. I’m just really proud of myself today.”
Gauff took a 5-1 lead in the first set when Muchova of the Czech Republic won three straight games to get back on serve. Gauff closed out the set by breaking serve in the tenth game.
After the disruption of the protestors in the second set, both women held serve until the eighth game, when Gauff broke serve to take a 5-3 lead. However, Gauff could not hold serve to close out the match and Muchova drew even. In the eleventh game, Gauff broke serve again on her sixth match point and sealed her place in Saturday’s final.
She’ll meet the Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday. Sabalenka rallied past Madison Keys 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (10-5).
In her on-court interview, Gauff thanked the fans for their support and asked for them to be even louder in the final.
“Some of those points, it was so loud, and I don’t know if my ears are going to be OK,” said Gauff.
“I grew up watching this tournament so much, so it means a lot to be in the final. A lot to celebrate,” Gauff said. “But the job is not done, so hopefully you can back me on Saturday.”
Gauff is looking to become the fourth American woman to win the US Open this century after Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Sloane Stephens.
Gauff, 19, is in the middle of an 11- match winning streak, the best of her career. She is 17-1 since a first round loss at Wimbledon.
“Deefinitely after Wimbledon, you know, I wasn’t expecting to do well honestly in this hard court season, so I’m really proud of the way I have been able to turn this season around for me,” Gauff said.
“I think honestly when I had that at Wimbledon I was really sort of thinking for offseason and preparing for next year. You know, I still think I have a lot to improve, but yeah, 100% I wasn’t thinking those results would happen.
“Even after D.C., didn’t think this would happen. Even after Cincy, didn’t think this would happen. I’m really proud of myself, and like I said, there is still a long ways to go.
“Yeah, I think I can improve a lot, but how I have been able to manage with the game I have now is something that I’m happy with.”
During her on-court interview Gauff said that the “job is not done.” She elaborated during her news conference, as this phrase was a reference to Kobe Bryant and his mentality.
“Definitely. He’s, like, has an incredible mentality. One of the things is when he’s up and, you know, the finals, NBA Finals when they’re up in the count or 3-1, whatever lead they have, he doesn’t celebrate. He’d satisfy, give himself a pat on the back but time to move on.
“So that’s the mentality that I have. I’m trying to enjoy the moment but also knowing I still have more work to do.
“Yes, the final is an incredible achievement but it’s something that I’m not satisfied with yet.”
