US Open: Gauff Beats Muchova, Reaches Final
American Coco Gauff beat Karolina Muchova of Czech Republic 6-4 7-5 to reach her first US Open final on Thursday after the match was halted for nearly an hour when an environmental activist glued his feet to the floor of the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, USA.
Gauff swept the first three games of the opening set and broke her opponent again in the sixth. Muchova, this year’s Roland Garros runner-up, capitalised on some mistakes by the 19-year-old and broke straight back in the seventh, raising her level from there to break Gauff again in the ninth.
The Czech’s good work went to waste, however, as she committed a trio of unforced errors in the 10th game, allowing Gauff to break to love and take the set.
The match was delayed by roughly 50 minutes early in the second set due to a protest by four spectators. After the players returned, they warmed up again on court before resuming play, neither appearing rattled by the incident.
Muchova double-faulted to help Gauff break in the eighth game but saved match point in the next game before breaking the American’s serve to keep the match going.
The Czech saved four more match points in the 12th game but Gauff would not be denied, surviving a 40-shot rally on the penultimate point with a forehand winner before cheering with delight as her opponent sent a backhand past the baseline on the sixth match point.
“Some of those points, it was so loud and I don’t know if my ears are going to be okay,” Gauff said after the thrilling contest. “I grew up watching this tournament so much so it means a lot to me to be in the final. A lot to celebrate but the job is not done.”
Gauff, who had beaten Muchova in the Cincinnati final last month to claim the biggest title of her career, fed off the energy of the home crowd to get past the Czech once again.
Sixth seed, Gauff, will next face second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the final after the Belarusian won Madison Keys 6-0 7-6 7-6 in the other semi-final.
