Gauff wins 1st

Cori Gauff of the United States poses with the trophy yesterday after she won her WTA-Upper Austria Ladies final tennis match against Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia in Linz, Austria. (Photo: AFP)

LINZ, Austria (AFP) — Teenage prodigy Coco Gauff won her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title yesterday following a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in the final in Linz that saw her hold her first trophy aloft aged 15.

Gauff, who only entered the field as a lucky loser after failing to qualify, completed a dream week in Linz in front of a supportive crowd, to become the youngest player to win a WTA event since Czech Nicole Vaidisova, who triumphed in Vancouver and Tashkent two months apart in 2004.

“I’ll remember this day for the rest of my life,” the delighted Gauff said after receiving a minutes-long standing ovation from 3,000 spectators.

“I’m still overwhelmed, it’s shocking and crazy to say I’ve won my first WTA title,” she added.

Gauff will shoot up from 110 in the rankings into the 80s, according to WTA calculations, after becoming the youngest American to earn a WTA trophy since Jennifer Capriati at Toronto in 1991.

The hype surrounding the youngster has grown this year after solid performances this summer at both Wimbledon and the US Open, where she was defeated in the third round by defending champion Naomi Osaka, and her displays in Linz have enthralled tennis fans.

But the American came alive in the third set, going up two breaks before her opponent managed to save a pair of match points while trailing 5-1.

With her debut week on the European indoor circuit a roaring success, Gauff is now scheduled to compete next week in Luxembourg to wrap up her WTA season.