Coco Gauff, 19, Earns Cincinnati Women’s Title by Beating Muchova in Straight Sets

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Seventh-seeded Coco Gauff turned the primary teenager in additional than 50 years to win the Western & Southern Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova on Sunday.

Gauff, the 2022 French Open runner-up, earned her first Masters 1000 title when Muchova sailed a forehand return extensive on Gauff’s fourth match level. The 19-year-old American tossed her racket within the air and jumped up and down in glee after surviving a 1-hour, 56-minute match performed in temperatures approaching 90 levels.

“That is unbelievable,” Gauff mentioned in the course of the post-match trophy presentation. “I’m simply blissful to be right here for this second.

“I need to congratulate Karolina for an unbelievable run on this match,” she added. “Hopefully, we’ll play extra typically, and on a much bigger stage than this.”

Gauff was the match’s fourth teenage finalist and first since Vera Zvonareva in 2004. She is the primary teenage champion since 17-year-old Linda Tuero in 1968.

Prime-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Novak Djokovic performed for the boys’s title in a rematch of Alcaraz’s victory within the Wimbledon remaining.

After a spotty first set that featured a mixed 5 service breaks, together with Gauff’s double fault on one sport level, Gauff gained command over her Czech Republic opponent with a break within the eighth sport.

She fought off two break factors within the fourth sport of the second set and took management with a break within the subsequent sport when Muchova despatched a backhand extensive. Whereas successful the following sport, Gauff caught a break with a winner off the online that left her along with her left palm on her racket and looking out up on the sky as if she was praying in gratitude.

She missed on three match factors within the eighth sport earlier than closing it out.

“After I awakened this morning, the very first thing I mentioned was ‘Ouch,’” the 26-year-old Muchova mentioned. “I knew it was going to be a tricky activity to win, particularly towards somebody like Coco.”

The French Open runner-up will rejoice her birthday on Monday by shifting to No. 10 on the WTA rankings.

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