Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic make big statements — and build excitement for the US Open

In one of the most memorable days in recent tennis history, the Western & Southern Open crowned two new singles champions on Sunday — and provided even more hype for next week’s US Open.

During the day’s first final, Coco Gauff continued her blistering-hot summer on the hard court with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Karolina Muchova to claim the first 1000-level title of her career and notch her second WTA title in three weeks. Just a day after earning her first victory in eight tries over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the semifinals, the 19-year-old Gauff became the youngest woman to win the tournament in Open era history and made herself one of the top contenders — if not the contender — for the final major trophy of the year in New York.

All hail, Queen Coco 🏆#CincyTennis | @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/P6pj2dwyT1

— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 20, 2023

It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Gauff, who was upset in the first round of Wimbledon just last month. But since then, she started working with Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert, and has gone 11-1 during the North American swing. In an interview with ESPN from Cincinnati last week, Gilbert said he had suggested some small adjustments during their brief time together so far, but made it clear Gauff alone deserves the credit for her recent success.

“Coco is a really hard worker,” Gilbert said. “She’s really humble and she’s a great kid, and you really want great things to happen for her. She’s also really bright and she wants to be good … She’s had the tough burden the past few years of seeing other people winning Slams and thinking, ‘OK, why not me?’ but she’s willing to do the work to get there.”

With Gauff’s doubles partner Jessica Pegula winning the Canadian Open earlier this month, Gauff’s victory marked the first sweep of both of the summer 1000-level hard-court tournaments by American women since Cincinnati was reintroduced on the WTA schedule in 2004.

consider it swept 🇺🇸👏🏼 https://t.co/dtjykGOrCl

— Jessie Pegula (@JPegula) August 20, 2023

Those in attendance at the Western & Southern Open were then treated to an absolutely epic men’s final between world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

After winning the first set and jumping to a 4-2 lead in the second set, it looked as if the trophy was Alcaraz’s, but Djokovic had other plans. Looking to avenge his loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon last month, Djokovic staved off match point in a second-set…