By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Conviction helped carry Coco Gauff to her maiden main title on the US Open.
Dedication to the trigger has earned Gauff one other prestigious title: a spot on Time’s Ladies of the Yr checklist.
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Extra: Richard Evans Q&A
The world No. 3 was one in every of 12 girls named to Time Journal’s Ladies of the Yr checklist, becoming a member of director Greta Gerwig and actress Taraji P. Henson amongst others.
“I knew about it final yr, so it’s actually cool to be on that checklist amongst different wonderful girls,” Gauff mentioned in Dubai as we speak. “Particularly making it so younger. It means rather a lot.
“I’m tremendous grateful for them to decide on me to do this. I do know I’m going to the occasion in March, so I’m actually excited for that. One of many uncommon instances I dress up so I’m actually excited and thanks to Time for selecting me.”
In line with Sportico, @CocoGauff is the world’s highest-paid feminine athlete. The greater than $22 million she earned in 2023 is a degree of satisfaction. “Being a Black lady, in a sport that isn’t as numerous as others are, it positively means rather a lot to me,” she says https://t.co/m6U5wuJ5rP
— TIME (@TIME) February 21, 2024
Gauff hit a backhand bolt sealing her maiden Grand Slam title with gripping 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 conquer second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka within the US Open closing.
A dynamic Gauff bounced again from a jittery opening set, slashing by way of 5 straight video games to grab the second set and snatch a 4-0 lead within the third turning the most important Grand Slam stadium within the sport into a large home get together with greater than 23,000 screaming followers relishing the experience.
The 19-year-old Gauff turned the youngest American to win the US Open since her tennis hero, a 17-year-old Serena Williams, defeated world No. 1 Martina Hingis within the 1999 closing.
Meet our Ladies of the Yr: 12 leaders working towards a extra equal world https://t.co/MqNWWiGCS2
— TIME (@TIME) February 21, 2024
Auckland champion Gauff tells Time she has one clear purpose: amass as a lot Grand Slam silverware as potential.
“That’s the motivation that drives me,” Gauff instructed Time Journal. “I’m positive the ‘Face of Tennis’ and glitz and glam will come together with that. However I don’t actually care about any of that.
“I actually simply care about what number of of these main trophies I can get in my home.”
Picture credit score: Darren Carroll/USTA
