(New York) Coco Gauff advanced to her first U.S. Open final by defeating Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 in the first of two women’s singles semifinals on Thursday evening.
The match was also interrupted for 50 minutes due to environmental protesters, one of whom stuck his bare feet to the concrete in the stands of Arthur-Ashe stadium.
Gauff needed six match points to end the duel. The Florida native is the youngest American to qualify for the final at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 2001.
“I grew up watching this tournament, so it means a lot to be in the final,” said the American. There is a lot to celebrate. However, the work is not finished. »
After missing his chance on a match point at 5-3, as well as four more later in the last game of the match, Gauff seized his chance by finishing the longest point of the duel, 40 shots, at the help with a powerful forehand. Muchova then missed a backhand and the match ended like this.
“It was so loud at certain points,” Gauff said. I don’t know if my ears will survive. »
Gauff was leading by an inning and 1-0 in the second when three protesters disrupted play from the upper level of the stands. Two of the people were escorted away fairly quickly after security guards and, ultimately, police arrived. However, it took longer to free the person stuck to the concrete.
The two players returned to the locker room during the interruption.
Gauff has won 11 straight, as well as 17 of his last 18. This streak began after his early first-round defeat at Wimbledon in July.
During this winning streak, Gauff won her two biggest career titles, in Washington and Cincinnati.
The American was a finalist at Roland-Garros in 2022, and will now want to win her first major tournament on Saturday.
She will face the second seed and next world number one racket, Aryna Sabalenka, in the final. The latter defeated 17th-seeded Madison Keys, 0-6, 7-6 (1), 7-6 (5).
Sabalenka came close to getting beaten when Keys led 6-0, but won 12 straight points to get back in the match.
Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open this year, is 23-2 this year in Grand Slam tournaments.