(New York) Coco Gauff shrugged off the heat, humidity and powerful rival to reach the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time in her career with a 6-0, 6 win -2 against Latvian Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday.
Gauff, a 19-year-old American, becomes the first American under 20 to reach the semi-finals in New York since 2001, when Serena Williams was runner-up ahead of her older sister Venus.
“Last year I lost in the quarter-finals so I wanted to get a better result this year,” Gauff said. I hope my journey will continue to stretch, but I’m happy to continue working in anticipation of the next game. »
This is for Gauff a 16e win in their last 17 games. Her best Grand Slam result is a participation in the French Open final in 2022. She then lost to Iga Swiatek.
This time, Swiatek was knocked out of her way by Ostapenko in the fourth round. This not only ended Swiatek’s defense, but also his reign as world No. 1. She will hand over her crown to Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings update next week.
PHOTO SETH WENIG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jelena Ostapenko
When she is in full possession of her means, Ostapenko can seem unbeatable, because she goes all out with every shot. But the 2017 French Open champion can also experience disastrous days like Tuesday, when she committed 36 unforced errors against Gauff.
“I didn’t feel comfortable throughout the match, and even on match point. I know her style and I know she has the tools to bounce back no matter the outcome,” said Gauff, who lost to Ostapenko at the Australian Open in January. So I wanted to get through every point, try to play every ball. »
In the semi-finals on Thursday, Gauff will face the winner of the duel between the Czech Karolina Muchova, no. 10, and the Romanian Sorana Cirstea, no. 30. Muchova and Cirstea had an appointment in the evening.
Wednesday’s two quarterfinals will pit No. 2 Sabalenka against No. 23 China’s Zheng Qinwen, as well as Czech Marketa Vondrousova, the July Wimbledon champion, against No. 17 American Madison Keys.
