Coco Gauff achieved her teen dream after finally beating Iga Swiatek following seven crushing defeats, reaching the final of the Cincinnati Masters on Saturday..
The American 19-year-old got the job done after nearly three hours to become the first teenager in the final here in nearly two decades.
The last to get this far in the Midwest was Vera Zvonareva in 2004.
Gauff, who had never taken a set off of Poland’s Swiatek, the world No. 1, needed four match points to advance as Swiatek volleyed wide.
“I knew playing her was going to be tough,” Gauff said. “I really took my opportunities when I got them and I really just fought every point.
“I was a little bit negative in the second but I got it back and I was telling myself, ‘You’re a warrior and you can do this.'”
She added: “I tried to serve as hard as I could on the match points.
“She is No. 1 in the world — you have to focus on your end of the court.
“Today It came down to the wire,” she said. “It was nice to play in front of an American crowd, even if there were some Polish flags in the stands.”
Gauff’s triumph was her 11th career victory over a top-10 opponent after stopping 10th-ranked Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova last week in Montreal.
“I’ve been working hard and I guess it’s paying off right now,” Gauff said. “I told myself I can let this crush me or make me rise and I decided to make myself rise. It just shows I can do it.”
Swiatek had defeated Gauff twice this season, in Dubai and Roland Garros.
Main photo:- Coco Gauff celebrates semi final win – by WTATennis.com
