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Coco Gauff reveals she felt "shocked" and "couldn't breathe" moments after landing her first Grand Slam title. On Saturday, Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the US Open final. At 19, Gauff became a Grand Slam champion in front of her home fans.
"It’s still crazy. I don’t think it’s digested. Like even last night, I was telling myself, you’re a Grand Slam champion, and I’m like, it doesn’t feel real at all. It felt like it hit all at once because I didn't want to tell myself it was match points on the match points.
I didn't want to start shaking. So when it happened and it like finally, then it was over. So I was a little bit shocked and I couldn't breathe either," Gauff said on TODAY.
Gauff's turned her dreams into a reality
After winning the US Open, Gauff paid special tribute to Serena and Venus Williams, saying that the Williams sisters were the reason why she picked up a racket and believed she could one day do great things in tennis.
Also, Gauff recalled playing in the US Open girls' event several years ago and thinking she would one day win a title there as a pro. "When I was 13 I think or 14 when I played US Open juniors, I watched the men's final that year, so I had those envisions of myself then.
That felt like craziness today lifting this trophy. It hasn't sunken in and I think it probably will maybe in a week or so. Oh, I think the first was when I was eight and I would come, like, three times, three or four years in a row, to see Arthur Ashe Kids' Day and I was just watching, you know, players compete on this court," Gauff said.
This Monday, Gauff rose to a career-high ranking of No 3 in the world and she is now the highest-ranked American female tennis player.