US Open: Coco Gauff Wins First Grand Slam Title in Kobe Bryant Fashion

Coco Gauff bagged her first Grand Slam title after defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final on Saturday, September 9, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It was a sweet victory for the 19-year-old who got her share of negative comments before the US Open final started. Regardless, this did not prevent Coco Gauff from entering the record books.

In the post-game, the Florida native admitted that she just wanted to prove to herself she could win and no one else.

Read more: Coco Gauff Tells Coach to Shut Up; Ploy Helps and Pushes Teen to Quarterfinals

Heading into the US Open final against Sabalenka, Gauff took a page out of the book of the late NBA star Kobe Bryant.

After advancing to the US Open final, the 19-year-old told the crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium that the "Job's not yet done," Forbes reported.

Coco Gauff was referencing the time when the "Black Mamba" was unhappy even after winning Game 2 of the 2009 NBA Finals.

"What's there to be happy about? Job's not finished," the Lakers' legend said at the time.

It was not an easy route to her first Grand Slam title. She had to recover from a one-set deficit to topple the soon-to-be No. 1 Sabalenka.

Aside from that, there were the doubters. Coco Gauff, like any teen these days, is on social media, and the 19-year-old was pretty much aware of the negativity on her before she pulled off that epic 2023 US Open final win, Tennis.com reported.

"People don't think I see it but I see it. I'm very aware of tennis Twitter. I know y'all's usernames, so I know who's talking trash and I can't wait to look on Twitter right now!" Gauff said.

Gauff becomes the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams did it back in 2001.

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