FCI Staff Writer Sacramento 
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September 30, 2023,
Isn’t it wonderful when it all comes together?
Previously, components needed to be upgraded or were completely missing and when you put it all together and it works close to perfection, you just might win the mighty 2023 US Open.
American super star Coco Gauff just did that.
What was so impressive about Coco’s victory was how she added components to her game that didn’t appear to be there before.
Her victory over Aryna Sabalenka, in the September 9, 2023 finals, was a work of art, coming from behind 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, to raise the trophy.
Our associates at Femcompetitor Magazine (femcompetitor.com) closely followed the tournament and can provide us with some insights.
AUGUST 29, 2023
Much is expected of her at this year’s 2023 US Open.
Understandably.
She’s an American Phenom.
At only 19, she can play like a crafty veteran, and tonight, against Germany’s 35 year old veteran Laura Siegemund, she will absolutely need to.
Coco Gauff is an American professional tennis player who has been ranked as high as world No. 4 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), reached on October 24, 2022, and world No. 1 in doubles, achieved on August 15, 2022.
Currently she is ranked a powerful number 6.
Very impressive.
For a 19 year old.
Coco has won five WTA Tour singles titles, including a WTA 1000 title at the 2023 Cincinnati Masters, and eight doubles titles, three partnering with Caty McNally and five with Jessica Pegula.
Coco rose to prominence with a win over former world No. 1 and seven-time major champion, Venus Williams, in the opening round of 2019 Wimbledon.
Now, that will get you the next best American female tennis player status very quickly.
Especially when you are often compared to her sister, one of the greatest of all time in Serena Williams.
Tonight is the night.
She walked out of the tunnel confident. This is the version of Coo Gauff that we love to see.
It was the best version of Laura Siegemund that we didn’t remotely expect to see.
Laura made it through the qualifiers to make it to tonight’s big stage. That is saying a lot.
In 2021, Britain’s Emma Raducanu did that and won the US Open.
Don’t sleep on a qualifier.
Laura kept Coco completely off balance in the first set, rushing the net, placing incredible drop shots, mixing it up with penetrating slices and striking the ball beautifully.
To the crowd’s horror and Coco’s shock, Laura won the first set 6-3.
It is as though the first game of the second set is going to decide the direction of the rest of the match.
It took 26 minutes.
That is correct. It is not a typo.
Twenty six minutes for one game?
That is how important it was. Especially for Coco.
The first set she allowed Siegemund to influence her to play to the German star’s game. Slices, drop shops and persistent net rushing. It is not a style that Coco is used to, especially with a baseliner like Jessica Pegula as a doubles partner.
It didn’t help that Laura often was taking more than the allotted 25 seconds on the serving clock.
Now that coaching is allowed, Coco’s coach, the legendary Brad Gilbert is letting everyone, including Laura, Coco and the umpire know that. The television audience as well.
Appreciate that Brad.
After losing the first game of the second set, Siegemund is coming back down to earth. According to the WTA website wtatennis.com, she is ranked number 121 in the world, recently sliding downward 13 spots. It was hard for her to keep up the magic of the first set.
And the intricacies of it.
Time to turn to a little gamesmanship, questioning the line calls, knowing they cannot be overturned and possibly trying to irritate Coco.
Maybe.
No matter. Coco figured all of it out and pounced in the second set, 6-2.
Time for the third set.
Almost.
Laura takes over 8 minutes for a restroom break.
This match is more defining for Coco, on her home court, with a new exceptional coach and hearing the expectations from those in high circles, like the legendary Chris Evert.
In case you are keeping track, they have already been playing for over 2 hours.
Coco is starting to figure out Laura’s strategy, not being knocked out of rhythm as much. Pushing those drop shots deep.
The umpire finally warns Laura about taking too long on her serve and the German sensation appears to be collapsing.
We finally see Coco smile. It is great when you love what you do.
And do it extremely well.
Coco surges to a 3-0 lead and then the real fireworks start.
Coco serves an ace and Laura states she was not ready.
Coco has had enough. She walks over to the umpire, reminding her that Laura has to play to the pace of the server. She is clearly upset. She makes her point but it raises a question.
When you are up 3-0, is it wise to do it then?
Is it wise to stop your momentum?
Analyst Pam Shriver, to some degree, raises that question.
After her debate with the umpire, Coco’s game starts to go down and Laura slowly begins to climb back into the match.
Coco leads 3-1 in the third set but this 5th game is critical.
She hangs on as Laura dumps a serve into the net. It is now 4-1 for Coco. Who, is no doubt breathing a little easier.
There’s is a reason why Laura is ranked number 121.
Gamesmanship will get you only so far.
Then something unusual happens. Coco is awarded a point for Laura’s second time violation.
The crowd roars with approval. It is now 5-1 for Coco.
Still, Laura holds serve and it is 5-2 for the American. Laura is on life support, but it is not over yet.
It is time for Coco to close out the match but she is down 0-40 on her serve.
Can she steady the ship?
No.
What is going on? Her lead has been cut to 5-3. Only one break.
Laura’s shots are having more authority and finding their range, literally outhitting Coco, who is supposed to be the harder hitter.
Laura is making a comeback. It is now only 5-4 for Coco, who needs to serve great to end this very peculiar, intense and incredibly exciting drama filled match.
Perhaps with mild sarcasm, Laura asks the umpire if she could towel off.
Most likely Coco didn’t find it funny.
This time Coco’s focus is in the right place and she hangs on to end the set 6-4.
The titanic struggle is finally over.
September 5, 2023,
Can she really only be nineteen?
She seems more mature than that.
As a player, she seems far more mature than that.
There is this feeling that Coco Gauff has arrived. As fans, we can feel it.
Though the expectations for her have always been high, her tennis play, especially at the majors, on hard courts, didn’t match the hype.
In the second round, on September 1, 2021, on Arthur Ashe stadium, she was ranked number 21, but fell to the 2017 US Open Champion, Sloane Stephens, who was not ranked, in two sets.
On January 25, 2020, in the fourth round of the Australian Open, in an American showdown, she lost to a then red hot Sofia Kenin 7-6, 3-6 and then collapsing in the 3rd set, 0-6.
Her troubles against Sofia continued.
As reported by Forbes Magazine on July 3, 2023, “There will be no deep run for Coco Gauff at Wimbledon. The No. 7 seed was upset by fellow American Sofia Kenin 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round on Monday.”
So, when Coco Gauff entered the 2023 US Open, though the expectations were extremely high, we wondered if things would be different.
One thing that has changed was that the legendary Zen Master, Brad Gilbert, was now her coach. Mr. Gilbert is known for doing wonders to change the fortunes, in the right direction, for many previous top players.
Thus far, he appears to be doing it for Coco as well. Her fourth round matchup against another legend, in Caroline Wozniacki, who publicly stated she felt that she could win this year’s US Open, was going to be a major test.
In Caroline’s first three matches, she looked sensational, even stronger than the Caroline we remembered who retired 3-1/2 years ago.
This time around would things be different for Coco? The commentators were constantly saying they felt she had a chance to go all the way.
It is time to find out. Let’s go courtside for a semi-blow by blow accounting.
SET ONE
Game 1. Long game, Coco dumps first important shot into the net. Dumps 3rd point into the next. Hits two balls out.
One thing with the Danish legend is very clear. Caroline is not going to beat herself.
- Coco’s 2nd shot goes down the line. Power and placement. Hitting great shots. Caroline volleys up high and she puts it away. Coco had a break point. She needs to hit winners early. The longer the rally, the more it favors Caroline.
Tension is absolutely in the air. Caroline is making more unforced errors than usual. She is hitting harder than we remember. Hits a winner to end the game.
2-0 for Caroline.
- Coco gets off to good start. Second serve is an ace. Brad Gilbert wants Coco to hit more loppers to test Caroline’s fitness. Coco hits well. Caroline hits the last one out.
2-1 for Caroline.
- Coco is hitting better. Two break points. Starting to out hit Caroline.
2-2
- Coco appears to warming up. Caroline appears to be feeling the pressure of the hard hitting pace and is starting to hit the ball harder than usual. Higher risk. More balls being hit out. Coco wins 4 points in a row and takes the lead.
3-2 for Coco.
- Back and forth. Coco is hitting harder, Caroline is playing well. Comes into the net and puts one away.
3-3
- Coco starts with an ace out wide right. Ups her power. Hits a blasting forehand down the line. 30-0. Hits a drop shot. Caroline runs in and hits it out. Caroline’s outfit is drenched in sweat. The Danish star runs marathons. At 33, Team Gilbert wants to test her fitness.
4-3 for Coco.
- Caroline serving. Down love 30.
5-3 for Coco.
Caroline doesn’t beat herself but she is starting to hit the ball out and even appears a little winded. Coco has a set point but makes a couple of errors to let Caroline back in the door.
Finally, the American heir apparent raises the level of her game with some great serving and finishes Caroline off.
6-3 for Coco.
SECOND SET
Caroline serving.
- Hitting more to Coco’s forehand, her weaker shot. They both trade blows. Coco tries a drop shot and Caroline races to get to it.
1-0 for Caroline.
- Caroline’s shots are getting better. They better if she wants to even this up. Moving Coco around the court, side to side. Caroline runs and gets another drop shot. Crowd applauds. They are hitting one another side to side. Caroline finally dumps one into the net. Hits one out.
1-1.
- Great back and forth, side to side hitting. It was a mighty struggle for Caroline to hold serve but she out wills Coco in this game.
2-1 for Caroline.
- Things are tightening up. Coco down 0-30. Caroline hits a break point into the net. They are both going for big shots. Coco hits an ace down the T to hold off a break point. Both hitting deep before Caroline finally hits it out.
2-2
- Caroline hits deep then sneaks into the net, 15-0. Caroline has a tough hold as Coco is just not patient enough. Hits the ball outside of the line.
3-2 for Caroline
- Caroline gets off to a good start. Is trying to punish Coco’s fore hand, well-known to be Coco’s Achilles heel. Coco steadies herself.
3-3
- Caroline is just starting to out hit Coco, winning and giving up only one point.
4-3 for Caroline.
She is also pressing Coco’s service game, continuing to get break points. Let’s see if she can do it here.
- Coco’s game has gone off the rails. She double faults and dumps balls into the net. Caroline wins handily.
6-3
THIRD SET
Caroline breaks the first serve. Coco is starting to hit balls into the net. Brad is talking a lot.
1-0 to Caroline.
- Coco seems to be getting determined. Plays much better. Hits some great shots.
1-1
- Coco is starting to come into the net. Caroline asks to turn the lights on. 5pm? Blue sky?
Coco hits a blistering 116 mph serve. She finally is turning things around. Hitting hard and coming to net.
2-1 for Coco.
Apparently Brad’s talking is too much. They don’t say his name but we sense we know.
Now the issue is the lights. Caroline says she can’t see. Break point for Coco. The young American hits to Caroline’s backhand and comes in. Caroline dumps it into the net.
Crowd chants let’s go Coco.
3-1 for Coco.
On cue, Coco starts hitting balls into the net.
The lights just got turned on.
Coco dumps a serve into the net. Break point.
Coco hits to back hand and comes in. Caroline misses.
Coco waves to the crowd. Come on. She plays much better.
Leads 4-1.
Coco comes into the net. Puts it away.
Finally Coco is counter punching.
5-1.
Chris Evert says Coco told her team to be quiet and started playing better. We agree. So does the score.
6-1 is the final in the third.
Coco overcomes her team’s chatter and her forehand mistakes to claim her prize.
One thing is for certain. This is the new Coco Gauff. Before, in hard court majors, we saw her collapse. Not now. Twice now, in this tournament, her best tennis was in the third set.
Before we label her, the American heir apparent, as others have, she needs to win this 2023 US Open. She has some major road blocks in her way. This is the fourth round. In the quarters she will face Jelena Ostapenko, who literally hit the world’s former number one, Iga Swiatek, right off the courts.
Don’t forget, there is still the new world’s number one in the tournament in hard hitting Aryna Sabalenka.
Fellow American Madison Keys hasn’t regained her form since she made it to the 2017 US Open finals, but this year, she is hitting hard and making more than she misses. Jessica Pegula, who seems to have hit a ceiling, found that out the hard way.
This tournament is far from over but given Coco’s mental toughness, we like her chances.
SUMMARY
Yes, they liked Coco’s chances indeed.
Those were a bird’ eye view of how hard it was for Coco to reach the finals.
She did it.
It is so wonderful when all of the components of a masterpiece finally come together.
~ ~ ~
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