2023-09-08 04:54:58
Coco Gauff during her US Open semi-final, won against Karolina Muchova, on September 7, 2023, in New York. KENA BETANCUR / AFP
Nothing disturbed her. Neither the untimely intervention of ecological activists, nor a final game of knives which could have changed the match. The American nugget Coco Gauff, 6th in the world at 19, qualified on Thursday September 7 for her first US Open final by beating the Czech Karolina Muchova (10th) 6-4, 7-5.
Gauff, who has already played a final at Roland-Garros in 2022, will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (2nd) or fellow American Madison Keys (17th) on Saturday to try to win her first Grand Slam title. She had never made it past the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
The American emerged victorious from a generally unexciting match, notably studded with 61 unforced errors (25 for Gauff, 36 for Muchova), the most thrilling moment of which was perhaps its interruption by environmental activists.
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An activist evacuated, handcuffed
As the players were about to begin the second game of the second set, four people, according to the organization, stood up in the upper part of the stands of the immense Arthur-Ashe court and chanted « end fossil fuels » (« stop fossil fuels »). The referee preferred to interrupt the game and while the public launched several times “take them out” against the activists, Gauff and Muchova were authorized to leave the court and return to the locker room while the situation was resolved.
Upon intervention by the police, three of the activists left peacefully, but the fourth stuck his bare feet to the ground. The police and the medical service took several minutes to unstick him before taking him out, his hands handcuffed behind his back.
Protesters disrupt the match between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova, in New York, September 6, 2023. ELSA / AFP
Before this unexpected interlude, Coco Gauff had won the first set, not without experiencing a little scare. While serving at 5-1, she saw Muchova come back to 5-4. The Czech then served to equalize at 5-5, but in a festival of unforced errors (12 for Gauff and 17 for Muchova over the entire first set), the American took her opponent’s serve a third time to pocket the first round.
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Massively supported by the public
In the second set, the two players kept their play until Gauff managed the break (taking advantage of a ball smashed in the lane by Muchova) to lead 5-3 and serve for the match. With a superb drop shot, the American obtained a first match point, but the Czech saved it with great authority before breaking.
At 5-4 and 15/15, Gauff and Muchova finally played a spectacular point, won by the American, which brought the audience to their feet. The game then got heated, especially as Muchova saved four more match points at 6-5. But after an exchange of 40 shots, Gauff offered herself a sixth match point, which she converted this time.
She is the youngest American to reach the US Open final since Serena Williams, who in 1999 won the first of her six titles at Flushing Meadows. Like Queen Serena, Gauff was able to count on massive public support.
“On certain points, the public made so much noise that I thought I was losing my hearingjoked the player. But keep it up, I hope it helps me on Saturday! “, day of the final.
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