Sport

15-year-old Coco Gauff wins first WTA title

Coco Gauff won her first WTA title by beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 1-6 6-2 to capture the Upper Austria Ladies Linz on Sunday.

The 15-year-old, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and the third round at the US Open, bounced back after losing a one-sided second set to win comfortably.

Gauff had earlier called Linz “my little lucky place” and its charm held for the teenager through the final, despite a late wobble.

After racing out to a 5-0 lead in the deciding set, Gauff dropped two late games to Ostapenko before closing out the match.

The teenager’s progression to her first title included her first-ever victory over a top 10 player after losing in the final round of qualifying to enter the main draw as a lucky loser.

“I’m still overwhelmed and shocked,” Gauff said on the WTA’s website

“I guess it’s crazy to say it’s my first WTA title. This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get in, and now I’m the champion, so it’s crazy.”

“It’s just literally insane that I got in as a lucky loser and now I’m the champion.

“My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match, he said ‘You can’t lose twice in the same tournament!'”

“I’m sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right!”