BY JAMES BECK
To Aryna Sabalenka, every shot seems to be a go-for-it.
The two Grand Slam champions in Sunday’s U.S. Open men’s final would say, “Thank you” for a similar approach by their opponent. But Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev don’t play that game often.
They play to win. Sabalenka didn’t, although she wanted so badly to earn her second Grand Slam title this year.
COCO PLAYED TO WIN
Coco Gauff also played to win, once she got past a one-sided first set. Sabalenka kept going for it, and the world’s new No. 1 player paid the price in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to young Coco Gauff.
So, what happens now? Obviously, Sabalenka and Gauff will lead the way as the best women’s players in the game . . . for now.
Where does French Open champ and former world’s No. 1 Iga Swiatek fit? Wimbledon titlist Marketa Vondrousova, Jessica Pegula, 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur and yes, Karolina Muchova fit into WTA Tour stars led by Sabalenka and Gauff?
WTA TOUR SHOULD BE EVEN BETTER IN 2024
The 2024 women’s season is sure to be an exciting one. Any of these eight players could turn out to be superstars by this time next year.
Or it might be that there are simply too many equals in the women’s game, or maybe not enough stability at the top of the game. Superstars are important to a tour.
What would the ATP Tour have looked like without Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal all winning Grand Slams about the same time?
Gauff has been amazing since returning from Europe to the U.S., going 16-0 in the U.S. and suffering her only loss in Canada to doubles partner Pegula.
GAUFF MOVING UP TO THIRD
Gauff is projected to climb three spots in the WTA rankings to No. 3.
But Saturday was the dream come true for the 19-year-old. She simply outplayed the hard-hitting Sabalenka in the last two sets.
Just as Medvedev’s victory over Carlos Alcaraz was set up by Medvedev’s amazing defense, running down practically everything Alcaraz had to offer, Gauff’s victory was secured by her ability to repeatedly chase down what looked like Sabalenka winners.
Gauff usually kept running down Sabalenka’s missiles until the Belarussian missed the court.
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James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award. 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.
