US Open final 2023 LIVE: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka in sensational comeback performance

A new first-time winner will be crowned at Flushing Meadows with champion Iga Swiatek knocked out early

Anti-fossil fuel protesters disrupt US Open

Coco Gauff’s day of destiny arrived as she came from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka and win the US Open.

The 19-year-old became the first American teenager to triumph at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams in 1999.

Williams’ final farewell to tennis at the same championships last year left a colossal void in tennis in the US.

So it felt only natural that Gauff, the heir apparent to the 23-time grand slam winner, stepped into her shoes 12 months later.

Sabalenka will be the new world number one on Monday after a remarkably consistent year in which she won the Australian Open and reached the semi-finals in Paris and at Wimbledon.

But that will be scant consolation for the 25-year-old from Belarus after she put herself in position to win her second grand slam title, only to fold as Gauff claimed her first, thrilling a raucous crowd with a memorable 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

Follow the US Open women’s singles final reaction live below:

US Open - women’s singles final

• Finalists emerge onto court after final words in the build-up
• Sabalenka breaks Gauff in very first game
• Gauff breaks back before conceding another service game
• Sabalenka wins first set 6-2 after breaking Gauff three times
• Gauff breaks early in second set and improves her own serve to build lead
• Home crowd celebrating as Gauff wins second set 6-3
• Gauff breaks Sabalenka in first game of deciding set
• Sabalenka breaks back but immediately fails to hold; Gauff will serve for title
• COCO GAUFF WINS 2023 US OPEN TITLE

[9 September 2023 23:12 · Karl Matchett]

*Gauff 4-1 Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3)

Medical time out for Sabalenka, getting attention on her right thigh.

She needs to be able to respond and in all probability break Gauff this time out.

[9 September 2023 23:09 · Karl Matchett]

*Gauff 4-1 Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3)

Back out come the big serves, Sabalenka hitting her third ace to go 30-0 up and her fourth for 40-0.

In a show of the erratic nature of her game, the all-or-nothing of it, Sabalenka then produces a double fault and sends another forehand long. She wins the game in the end and calls for the physio.

[9 September 2023 23:06 · Karl Matchett]

Gauff 4-0 Sabalenka* (2-6, 6-3)

On we go. Gauff looking to go four games up - but Sabalenka comes out firing and rattles in a big couple of early winners. Nothing left to lose at this point to be fair.

It looks at one point as though the No.2 seed is going to smash one in for break point, but an unreal return backhand from Gauff instead makes it 30-30.

The pendulum swings, and she wraps it up. Four games to love!

[9 September 2023 23:01 · Karl Matchett]

*Gauff 3-0 Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3)

Sabalenka has to dig deep now and get her own service back into action. Can she do it?

Her cause isn’t helped as her dampner comes flying off the middle of the first point. No let played though and Gauff wins it - she’s winning the mental side of this battle very clearly too.

Break point for Gauff and this is a crucial one...and Sabalenka looks to be crumbling. Her shot flies out, long, and it’s a double break for Gauff!

[9 September 2023 22:56 · Karl Matchett]

Gauff 2-0 Sabalenka* (2-6, 6-3)

One wide off the net from Sabalenka and things are falling for Gauff now after that slow start. What a recovery it has been over the last hour or so. Still a way to go, though.

She does what she needs to in this game though to open up the 2-0 lead, Sabalenka smashing a wild one off the rim into the crowd.

[9 September 2023 22:53 · Karl Matchett]

*Gauff 1-0 Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3)

That’s 45 unforced errors from Sabalenka across the two opening sets. She’ll need to improve that if she is to win this decider, but it doesn’t start that way as a lobbed return is there to volley or let bounce. She opts to volley and it’s into the net.

Fast forward two points and it’s more of the same, a forehand straight into the net for 30-30. So many of those this evening.

But that resilience from Sabalenka is on display next time out, hitting into the corners three times in a row and eventually finding the winner.

Even so it’s only heading one way in this game and Gauff breaks Sabalenka with a brilliant showing, sprinting to the net after another net clip, then reading the lob to smash a winner and send the crowd to their feet once more.

[9 September 2023 22:45 · Karl Matchett]

Gauff vs Sabalenka (2-6, 6-3)

A really good second set from Gauff and Sabalenka looked increasingly annoyed with her big-hitting approach going wayward.

On we go for the deciding set, Sabalenka to serve first.

[9 September 2023 22:43 · Karl Matchett]

Gauff 6-3 Sabalenka* (First set 2-6)

Big rally, big winner. Gauff sends Sabalenka to her forehand over and over...then is perfect with a forehand right onto the line down the opposite side. Good start for the American.

And now Gauff is really starting to control where and how this game is played: she sends Sabalenka all over the court, gradually moving forward and eventually volleying the winner to move to set point.

Sabalenka overhits another and we’re all square and heading for a deciding set!

[9 September 2023 22:39 · Karl Matchett]

*Gauff 5-3 Sabalenka (First set 2-6)

Sabalenka looking just to keep herself in with a shout, then.

A fierce rally ends in Gauff sending one just outside the lines, but the next time around her finisher is perfect.

It’s not enough though as Sabalenka takes the game, forcing Gauff to go back into bat to claim the second set herself.

[9 September 2023 22:33 · Karl Matchett]

Gauff 5-2 Sabalenka* (First set 2-6)

Double fault again to start the game but Gauff recovers and plays a couple of sumptuous winners and returns to force points.

Sabalenka with double the unforced errors in this set again, 14-7.

Gauff wraps it up with a fizzing backhand which Sabalenka spins out of play and it’s one game more needed for the American to claim the second set. Sabalenka will serve to stay in it.