Coco Gauff destroys Ostapenko by shedding simply 2 video games to succeed in first US Open semi
Coco Gauff raced into her first US Open semi-final to point out why she is second favorite to win her residence Grand Slam. The American No.6 seed conceded solely seven factors in a 20-minute first set towards No.20 seed Jelena Ostapenko earlier than profitable 6-0 6-2.
“It feels great,” she stated. “I am so happy to reach my first semi here. I lost last year in the quarter-finals. I still have a long way to go but I am ready to get back to work for the next one.” The Latvian had shocked Iga Swiatek to make sure there will likely be a brand new girls’s champion right here this 12 months – and the ninth completely different champion within the final 10 years.
New world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka is the favorite to win her second Grand Slam after her first win within the Australian Open. But teenager Gauff could have the backing of the vocal American crowd a 12 months after Serena Williams retired right here.
And Gauff, who has now gained 16 of her final 17 matches since shedding within the first spherical of Wimbledon, is the primary American teenager to succeed in the US Open final 4 since Serena Williams in 2001.
She confirmed a ruthless streak to win six out of seven break factors because the 2017 French Open champion was solely in a position to maintain her serve as soon as.
After profitable the ultimate six video games towards Caroline Wozniacki within the fourth spherical, Gauff prolonged her profitable streak within the Arthur Ashe Stadium to 13 video games when she took the opening recreation of the second set.
Ostapenko lastly received on the scoreboard after 31 minutes when she broke Gauff to deliver the rating to 1-1. She then had a degree within the subsequent recreation for a 2-1 lead earlier than she was broke but once more.
And Gauff closed out the match by taking her third match level along with her thirteenth winner after 68 minutes for probably the most lopsided win of her profession. Ostapenko made 36 unforced errors.
Sabalenka claimed she had wished to beat Swiatek to turn out to be world No.1 for the primary time. “I wanted to have this battle and decide everything on court. I was sad that she lost,” stated the Belarusian.
“But it means a lot to me, all year I’ve been pushing myself to reach this goal, to become world No. 1.”