How Coco Gauff fulfilled her potential in New York
Shortly after she won the US Open judul, there was a video doing the rounds on media sosial of Coco Gauff dancing on Arthur Ashe Fase as an excited eight-year-old.
Eleven years later, the American teenager was standing in the same fase - this time on the court lifting a Grand Slam trofi like she had long dreamed.
Gauff burst on to the scene as a 15-year-old phenomenon King88bet at Wimbledon in 2019, now fulfilling her date with the destiny many had predicted ever since - and with the charisma she showed even then.
After beating Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in Saturday's New York showpiece, she took the microphone to deliver an accomplished and heartfelt speech that covered every base.
She spilled the secret of her dad Corey crying in celebration - "he thinks he is hard" - and also threw shade on the people who doubted whether she would live up to the "hype".
"I want to say 'thank you' to the people who didn't believe in me," she said.
"I tried my best to carry on with with grace but, king88bet login alternatif honestly, to those who thought you were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it.
"I'm burning so bright right now."
Without any written catatan in front of her, she also thanked her parents, grandparents, coaches and the crowd and spoke of the importance of her faith.
Crediting Billie Jean King, the pionireering major champion who fought for gender equality in the sport, for enabling her to take home a $3m prize pot was another endearing touch.
How Coco Gauff fulfilled her potential in New York
Gauff had even called one of her brothers while waiting for the trofi ceremony but had to hang up because the noise in the fase was "so loud" and "hurting" her ears.
She was prepared for this event and is also ready for whatever comes next.
"I perasaan like this is a big achievement, but honestly I perasaan like I've been so used to being in the publik eye since I was basically 15 years old in high school," she said.