Coco Gauff was the most influential player at the 2023 US Open due to her awe inspiring skills and potential. But, that wasn’t the only reason she made the news. Drama struck during these insane matches when competition was running high. 

During Gauff’s first round game against Laura Siegemund, there were suspicions of active cheating. Coco recognized them and fought against it, even with her commanding 3-0 lead. When Siegemund held her hand up to signal she was not ready for the serve, the umpire accepted the request. This was her breaking point. Gauff went up to the chair umpire to protest the unfair advantage: “She’s never ready when I’m serving, she went over to talk like four times, you only gave her a time violation once, how is this fair?” In her eyes, this was slowing the game, and completely ridiculous. After having a frustrated conversation with the umpire, she went back to her post with the approval of the fans. After the game, a reporter asked to pick a word that represented the game, to which Gauff responded: “Slow.” Reporters also found Siegemund left in tears by the crowd’s reaction towards her.

After her first game filled with protests of cheating and controversy, Gauff smoothly defeated every other competitor on her way to the Final match against Aryna Sabalenka, a No. 1 ranked women’s singles player. As a 19 year old playing a 25 year old, Gauff outmatched her by winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. She successfully came back in the second set. This impressive win to secure the maiden Grand Slam title is creating fame as she is claiming titles and proving herself to be a tennis legend. She is the first American teenager to win singles in New York since Serena Williams in 1999. We are expecting to see her continue to stand up against unfair advantages while effortlessly beating the competition.