US Open: Teenage sensation Coco Gauff believes she has the ‘maturity’ to win her first Grand Slam… but world No. 1 in waiting Aryna Sabalenka will provide her sternest test yet

The desire for Coco Gauff to claim her first Grand Slam title on Saturday will extend even further than the vast American tennis world.

After several days of off-field embarrassment for the women’s sport, nothing could provide a better moment than the arrival of a charismatic new champion, representing the sport’s most important market.

This week, the WTA Tour finally announced a location for the year-end championships to be held at the end of October. The late timing of the Cancun unveiling drew sharp criticism, as did the fact that it is seven time zones away from the Billie Jean King Cup team final that immediately follows.

The coronation of the hugely popular 19-year-old at Flushing Meadows would soon overshadow both that and the pranks of oil protesters who held up her semi-final victory over Karolina Muchova for 49 minutes.

It would also provide an important counterbalance to the current dominance of players from Eastern Europe, who have swept the last six Majors together.

Sabalenka recovered from a 0-6 first set vs. Madison Keys and qualified for the finals in Queens

But Gauff is in good form this tournament and believes she has matured after her last final

Arthur Ashe Stadium will be a lonely place for Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, although the confrontation of her nationality with an American one may not be such a big factor. The situation in Ukraine has received less attention here than at Wimbledon, and certainly less than at Roland Garros, where Sabalenka skipped some press conferences after being questioned about past ties with dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

It’s more about whether Gauff, who was touted as the next big thing for four years, can finally deliver on his promise. She thinks she can, unlike when she reached the 2022 French Open final.

“Then I was just relieved that I had made it to the final because so many people expected a lot from me,” she admitted. “I just didn’t really believe I had it in me, especially when I was playing against Iga (Swiatek), who was on a winning streak and everything.

‘This time I’m focusing more on myself and my expectations of myself. Not going on social media or listening to people who believe I can do it or believe I can’t. I really believe I now have the maturity and ability to do it.”

She has made a remarkable turnaround since her first-round exit at Wimbledon, where she seemed to be drifting away.

“Honestly, when I had that at Wimbledon, I was really thinking about the off-season and preparing for next year. I still think I have a lot to improve on, and I 100% didn’t think these results would happen.”

She also vowed to channel her inner Kobe Bryant, echoing the basketball superstar in remembering that the job isn’t done until it’s over: “He has an incredible mentality. One of the things is that when he’s awake, whatever lead they have, he doesn’t celebrate.

Gauff admitted she was ‘relieved’ just to reach the 2022 French Open final in Paris (above)

The 19-year-old will have the crowd on her side when she takes on Sabalenka on Saturday

“So that’s the mentality I have. I try to enjoy the moment, but I also know I have more work to do. The final is an incredible achievement, but it is something I am not yet satisfied with.’

Apart from her 0-6 first set in the narrow victory over Madison Keys in the semi-finals, Sabalenka seemed the best player of the tournament. She brings a physical presence and powerful ball striking – and a screeching soundtrack – that Gauff has yet to encounter here.

As American Emma Raducanu tries to emulate as teenage US Open champion, she will have to overcome someone who already lifted the Australian Open title this year.

“I think that final will certainly help me with all the emotions I experienced,” said Sabalenka. “It will be different, but I know what emotions to expect and how to deal with them.”

‘But she (Gauff) moves very well and serves very well as well. She’s hungry, like she has nothing to lose. She knows the audience will support her. I think that makes her a very difficult opponent. ‘