By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 13, 2019
Fifteeen-year-old Coco Gauff fought off Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the Linz final to make history as the youngest WTA champion in 15 years.
Photo credit: WTA Linz Facebook
Creativity is one of Coco Gauff's many assets.
The 15-year-old phenom created a coming of age milestone in Linz.
Lucky loser Gauff dispatched former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the Linz final to make history as the youngest WTA champion in 15 years.
Gauff is the youngest woman to capture a WTA title since Nicole Vaidisova won Tashkent in October 2004 at the age of 15 years, 5 months and is the youngest American woman to win a WTA title since Jennifer Capriati claimed the 1991 Toronto crown.
"I'm still overwhelmed and shocked," Gauff told the media in Linz. "I guess it's crazy to say it's my first WTA title.
"This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn't think I'd have a chance to get in, and now I'm the champion, so it's crazy."
A dynamic final performance completed an inspired run for the Delray Beach, Florida baseliner who lost in the final round of qualifying of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz before making the most her second chance.
Gauff scored her first career Top 10 win conquering Kiki Bertens in the quarterfinals, swept former world No. 9 Andrea Petkovic in the semifinals and today, with her parents and brother cheering her on, she rolled to a 5-0 lead in the decider before converting her third match point to subdue Ostapenko.
"I'll definitely remember this moment for the rest of my life," a beaming Gauff told the crowd.
Playing with power and poise, Gauff saved two break points in the opening game then broke Ostapenko in her first service game.
The teenager slashed an ace to hold for 3-0 as an erratic Ostapenko struggled to stay in step. Gauff banged an ace down the T for set points then attacked coaxing a lob long to take a one-set lead.
Facing a dangerous returner, Gauff eight of the last 10 points on her serve snatching the 32-minute opening set.
Resetting to start the second set, Ostapenko saved a break point reeling off seven straight points for a 2-0 lead.
The 72nd-ranked Ostapenko was starting to dictate play, but Gauff's superior speed around the court was clear when she spun a forehand pass crosscourt. Ostapenko double-faulted back the break in the third game.
The Latvian tripped a forehand off the tape, moved forward and knocked off a high forehand volley for a third straight break and a 3-1 lead.
Commanding the center of the court, Ostapenko banged out a love break for a 5-1 lead before closing the second set to force a decider.
Showing no trace of nerves, Gauff broke twice in a row charging out to a 5-0 lead in the final set streaking through the finish line of a historic triumph.
Afterward, Gauff said she took her dad's advice to heart in making the most of her second chance.
"My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match 'You can't lose twice in the same tournament!'" Gauff said. "I'm sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right."
"Call Me Coco" is the tagline Gauff popularized with sponsor New Balance. Now, we can call her champion.