Coco Gauff's amazing win marred by protest interruptions, seals final spot at US Open after beating Muchova
WTAFriday, 08 September 2023 at 11:14
Coco Gauff
defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 6-3 in a match interrupted by protesters at the
US Open.
The American tennis sensation has had her best two weeks at Flushing
Meadows, securing six victories that have propelled her to the final of the US
Open.
As the
World No. 6, Gauff has been one of the local favorites in the tournament and
has unquestionably demonstrated her outstanding form over the past month on the
hardcourt. Gauff won the Washington Open and the Cincinnati Open, entering the
US Open with a remarkable 16-1 record in North American tournaments since
Wimbledon.
Her
confidence was further boosted by a dominant 6-2, 6-0 victory over Jelena
Ostapenko in the quarterfinals, setting her up for a confident run to the
semifinals. Waiting for her there was the World No. 10, Karolina Muchova, who
had been her rival just two weeks earlier in the final of the WTA 1000
Cincinnati, a match Gauff won.
Muchova
quietly progressed through the tournament, capitalizing on the early exits of
other favorites in her half of the draw, including World No. 3 Elena Rybakina,
Maria Sakkari (8th seed), and Belinda Bencic (15th seed). In the quarterfinals,
she defeated the 30th seed, Sorana Cirstea, 6-0, 6-3.
The first
set began with Muchova displaying inconsistency and committing unforced errors,
allowing Coco Gauff to take a quick lead. Gauff had a 5-1 advantage with two
breaks in her favor. Although Muchova staged a comeback by recovering the
breaks, Gauff managed to secure the set 6-4, despite the Czech's spirited
fight.
At the
start of the second set, with Gauff leading 1-0, the match was interrupted by
shouts from protesters in the stands. Clearly frustrated by the delay, Muchova
and Gauff left the court and headed to the locker rooms, in a pause that lasted
for 50 minutes.
The
interruption seemed to benefit Muchova, who quickly showed improvement in her
service and targeted Gauff's backhand to unsettle her and prevent her from
comfortably using her two-handed backhand.
Muchova's best moments came after the timeout, but Gauff kept her composure and secured a break in the eighth game, earning the right to serve for the match. Muchova broke when she needed it most, leveling the score to 5-5 with her service.
After holding her service, the North American found another break under Muchova's pressure and clinched the match 6-4, 7-5.
Thanks to
Gauff's victory, the United States will have a female representative in the US
Open final after four years, when Serena Williams fell to Bianca Andreescu in
2019. The last American woman to win the championship was Sloane Stephens in
2017.
In the
final, Gauff awaits the winner of the match between the new World No. 1, Aryna
Sabalenka, and another American, Madison Keys.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- This article is SPOT ON!!!Rapunzel04-09-2026
- Is there no one in Pro Tennis willing to give this one some form of intervention before she crashes??
mandoist04-09-2026 - Double Standards for the male players? Gross. BTW: This "apology" reads like the one his lawyers wrote for him when he had to go to the Kangaroo Court for slapping his girlfriend around.mandoist04-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not just the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- From Day One, legalizing Sports Betting was never going to end well (for The Sport... not the thousands who lose their livelihoods and bank accounts). We're not even close to the end of the damage this is causing.mandoist03-09-2026
- In her defense... she has no "defense" and likely could not articulate it if she did.mandoist03-09-2026
- Someone is not enjoying her gradual slide down the rankings, which became noticeable last season. BTW: That reporter's on to something familiar -- the effects of Social Media Stardom on one's Second Priority (Tennis). Shades of Bouchard, Giorgi, Raducanu, etc.mandoist03-09-2026
- Sabalenka seems so unhappy. When you get angry after every mistake you make on court, you’ve got some issues sweetie! She also does seem to be “partying” a lot if you follow her social media (I don’t lolol). Very immature personality.DaveyWavey03-09-2026
- The main difference for bigger names like Alcaraz, Sinner, Zverez, etc. is that they usually make it to the later stages of tournaments while 99% of the other players win a round or two and then move on to the next tournament. The bigger names are playing more, playing longer and therefore more injury issues. The money is great but it all comes with a price!DaveyWavey03-09-2026
Loading
