Final Set: Gauff vs. Sabalenka

09/08/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Gritty Gauff, Spectacular Sabalenka Set Up Women’s U.S. Open Finale

Classic incoming! Thursday was a day of firsts and fortitude for #6 Coco Gauff and #2 Aryna Sabalenka at the U.S. Open. Gauff upended #10 Karolina Muchova in straight sets to continue the magic and reach her first grand slam final, all while managing a 45-minute protest that stopped play. The 19-year-old phenom notched crucial game points in the latter stages of each set, and she needs one more win to claim the first of (likely) many slams. In the nightcap, fellow American #17 Madison Keys started with a bang against Sabalenka, but the 2-seed wouldn’t go down easy. Keys won the first set in a runaway (6-0) before Sabalenka rallied for tiebreaker wins in both Set 2 (7-6 ^7-1) and Set 3 (7-6 ^10-5). That sets up a Gauff-Sabalenka title clash. Yes, please.

Gauff & Sabalenka

Head-to-Head: Gauff Leads (3-2)

Last Meeting: Indiana Wells QFs (2023)

*Sabalenka Won in Straight Sets (6-4, 6-0)

Majors: 1st Time Meeting in a Slam

Women’s Singles Highlights (Semifinals)

#2 A. Sabalenka def. #17 M. Keys (0-6, 7-6, 7-6)

#6 C. Gauff def. #10 K. Muchova (6-4, 7-5)

Tonight: It’s the top-3 seeds of the men’s draw alongside American underdog Ben Shelton to round out the finals. All signs point to another exciting Djokovic-Alcaraz showdown. Did we expect anything less?

Men’s Semifinal (Today)

#2 N. Djokovic vs. B. Shelton (Fri. 3:00 pm ET)

#1 C. Alcaraz vs. #3 D. Medvedev (Fri. 7:00 pm ET)

Women’s Final: Saturday

Men’s Final: Sunday

AP: Climate Protestor Glues Feet to Floor at US Open, Interrupts Coco Gauff’s Semifinal Win

Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images