Gauff, the 19-year-old American sensation, clinched her spot in her second Grand Slam final with a hard-fought victory over Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova, winning 6-4, 7-5. The match faced a 49-minute delay in the second set when environmental activists staged a protest in the stadium. Gauff, demonstrating poise, eventually closed out the match.
Gauff expressed sympathy for the activists’ cause, despite the disruption to her match. She emphasized her belief in climate change and acknowledged the importance of addressing environmental issues.
The protest mirrored similar actions at other high-profile sporting events, like Wimbledon and the French Open, in recent years.
Gauff will face Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the final. Sabalenka, the second seed, mounted an incredible comeback after losing the first set 0-6 against American Madison Keys, eventually winning 0-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (10/5). Sabalenka’s tenacity and belief in herself were crucial to her victory, as she managed to turn the tide in her favor.
Sabalenka is set to take over the world No.1 ranking at the conclusion of the tournament, and she praised her resilience and determination in this nail-biting semi-final.
Keys, who narrowly missed reaching her second US Open final, was visibly emotional in her post-match press conference. Despite the loss, she expressed her dedication to giving her best throughout the tournament.
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