NEW YORK — The grounds at the US Open were noticeably quiet on Saturday morning. It was the first day of the post-Serena Williams era, and it felt as if the air had been taken out of the site.
Ahead of Williams’ third-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic, there had been a palpable buzz everywhere — in the nosebleed seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in the lines at the food court, even waiting in traffic. Thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of the 23-time major champion during her practice sessions, and her matches became the hottest ticket in town.
But then she lost and, just like that, her legendary career was over. Even Rafael Nadal’s (albeit lopsided) match on Saturday night against Richard Gasquet at Ashe felt flat.
But something happened on Sunday. Or rather someone.
Playing in the second match of the afternoon on Ashe, 18-year-old Coco Gauff faced a tough battle against Zhang Shuai, and with every fiercely contested rally and feat of athleticism, the crowd grew louder and louder. There were, “Let’s go, Co-co” chants and frequent reminders from the chair umpire for silence.
“It feels insane. I mean, Ashe Stadium chanting my name?” Gauff said during her on-court interview after the match. “I was trying not to smile on the bench on the changeover. I was trying to stay in the moment.”
Gauff ultimately won the match 7-5, 7-5, becoming the youngest American woman to advance to the quarterfinals at the event since 2009, and the first teenage woman since Victoria Azarenka, also in 2009, to reach the round at two majors during the same season. (Gauff advanced to the French Open final earlier this year.)
While three matches stand in the way of her first Grand Slam title — starting with a very tricky quarterfinal clash against the red-hot Caroline Garcia on Tuesday night — it is clear she is one of the game’s next big superstars.
And she’s not the only up-and-comer to reenergize the crowds this fortnight.
On Monday afternoon, Frances Tiafoe pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, victory over Nadal, the 22-time major champion, to advance to the second major quarterfinals of his career.
The 24-year-old American has long charmed crowds with his fearless play, powerful hitting and entertaining style. In the fourth-round clash, he found a way to put it all together at his home Slam. While Nadal remains one of…
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