Coco Gauff Defeats Maria Sakkari in DC Open Final to Win 4th Career Title

COCO MOMENTCoco Gauff Defeats Maria Sakkari in DC Open Final to Win 4th Career Title

US rising tennis star Coco Gauff has claimed her most significant title to date by defeating Greek tennis star, Maria Sakkari in straight sets to win the WTA 500 Citi Open in Washington DC. Despite the challenge of facing World No. 9 Sakkari, who had the upper hand in their previous encounters, the 19-year-old Gauff put up an outstanding performance on home soil.

*19-year old Coco Gauff claimed her most significant title to date in Washinton. | Credit: AP*

Gauff’s triumph came after a hard-fought battle, where she found herself trailing in the second set. Undeterred, she mounted a spectacular comeback, winning four consecutive games to secure a straight-set victory with a scoreline of 6-2, 6-3. This win marks Gauff’s fourth career title and her first at the WTA 500 level, surpassing her three previous victories at WTA 250 level tournaments.

ALLLL CAPSSS W@CocoGauff | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/ue9ZNEDIDm
— wta (@WTA) August 6, 2023

Throughout the tournament, Gauff displayed remarkable form, dropping only 19 games across her four matches. Her exceptional performance was bolstered by her collaboration with the experienced coaching team, including Brad Gilbert, known for his work with legends like Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Andre Agassi, as well as her new coach Pere Riba.

Delighted with her new coaching setup, Gauff said: “It’s our first tournament as a full team.”

“I’m glad that we were able to make this result. I know those who were with me at Wimbledon [where Gauff lost in the first round] it was really tough a couple of weeks ago. We were all feeling it. I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”

During the final match, Gauff exhibited her aggressive playing style, gaining an early lead of 3-0 against Sakkari. Although Sakkari fought back, Gauff’s powerful game proved too much for her opponent. Gauff claimed crucial breaks of serve and eventually secured the opening set.

In the second set, Sakkari, 28, started strong, taking a 2-0 lead. Nevertheless, Gauff demonstrated resilience and swiftly leveled the score by securing a love hold and a break of serve. The match hung in the balance, but Gauff’s composure and skill allowed her to pull ahead and finish with a spectacular backhand winner, sealing her well-deserved victory.