Coco Gauff was crowned
US Open Champion 2023 after beating
Aryna Sabalenka coming from 1 set down, and winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. How hard the match had been for both players, the Q&A follow-up during the US Open 2023 celebration turned out to be at least as tough as the match beforehand.
Here you'll read the most striking transcripts of what Coco Gauff said immediately after winning the US Open title in her winner's speech during the celebration ceremony.
As focused Gauff's demeanor remained during the match, emotions ran high for the 19-year-old immediately after the match, and into the US Open's celebration ceremony.
With the USTA Chairman of the Board and President Brian Hainline thanking everyone including Billy Jean King, runner-up Aryna Sabalenka was the first forced to put in a word. Still shell-shocked by emotions and adrenaline the Belo-Russian tennis star could barely speak a word. When asked about her family and her people back home, she literally broke down in tears having Coco Gauff looking on in the background surely thinking at that instant 'My god! this is going to be tough'.
Then Coco's moment of glory came as the announcement rang out "Now let's hear from our champion Coco Gauff!" .
"Oh my goodness!" the American champion exclaimed. "Uuuh. It means so much to me! I feel like I'm a little bit in shock this moment but you know that French open loss was a heartbreak for me but I realized you know, God puts you through tribulations and trials and this makes this moment even more sweeter than i can imagine."
Gauff then went on to stress her faith adding wittingly that she doesn't pray to God for results.
When asked about her box and family she admitted: "Today was the first time I've ever seen my dad cry -he doesn't want me to tell you all that but he got caught in 4K! He thinks he is so hard but he's not, so thank you guys!"
Being caught in 4K is a slang term that often refers to someone being caught doing something wrong on camera. Exactly what her dad did.. shedding some tears over his daughter's win.
Just like her father, Gauff is in fact living the dream summer of her career, becoming the fourth American in the 21st century to secure the US Open title, the first since 2017, and will become world No. 3 starting Monday.