There are already female finalists for this edition of the US Open. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka will fight this Saturday for the New York title. The 19-year-old American made it to the final by defeating Czech Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5. Contrary to what the result would suggest, it was not an easy task for the teenager. The pressure of the moment got the better of this year's Roland Garros finalist, who had a hard time entering the match. In 19 minutes, Gauff was already 4-1. Little by little she was recovering lost ground, but when she served to equalize at 5, she lost four points in a row that gave the American the set, who also scored the first game of the second set.
At that point, the match was interrupted by protests from environmental activists, one of whom had stuck his bare feet to the ground. The police and medical services took 49 minutes to remove him from the track. When the match resumed, Muchova tried to fight back to force a third set, although Coco was the one to step up and serve for the victory. And then the nerves changed sides. The Czech broke her young opponent's serve, saving two match points. And he would beat another three, two of them due to unforced errors by Gauff. Finally, on the sixth occasion, after a 40-shot exchange, Muchova's backhand cross went wide.
“I managed to stay very focused the whole time. I am very proud of myself today” ”, said the finalist. “I grew up watching this tournament and it's very special to be in the final. But the job is not over."
In the second semifinal of the night, Aryna Sabalenka managed to come back from a lost match, and frustrated hopes of an American final by eliminating Madison Keys 0-6, 7-6 (1) and 7-6 (5).
Things couldn't have started better for Madison Keys, who with a very solid level, serving well and hitting 12 winners (7 in the first three games), gave Sabalenka no option and gave her a donut. Obfuscated, the Belarusian went to the locker room to change (something allowed between sets) and another completely different player returned to the court. The serve worked for her again and she began to hit more winners. Keys did not let her guard down and she managed to break, go 5-4 and serve for the match. Prisoner of her nerves, between two double faults and the pressure exerted by her rival, the Illinois player went from qualifying for the final to a second set tied at 5. The tie was maintained and they went to sudden death, where Sabalenka put the accelerator on. and won 7-1.
Psychologically, the advantage belonged to the Australian champion entering the final set. In addition to Keys, who was treated by the physio between the second and third round, she looked more fatigued than her opponent. But she gained strength and managed to keep the score even. The match would be decided with a match tie-break. Sabalenka threw her racket to the ground, in celebration, when she was leading 7-3… until her box reminded her that this sudden death was at 10. Luckily for her, she was able to celebrate again when Keys, who saved two match points, he threw his right hand wide in the third.
The Minsk tennis player, who will be world number one on Monday, is ready for Saturday's challenge. “Coco is amazing. She is playing amazing tennis. People will be supporting her. I will be there, fighting for every point.”
