Getty Image / Matthew Stockman
Coco Gauff came into the US Open red-hot, as winners of 2 of her last 3 tournaments. But, in her opening win in three sets of the US Open in prime time Monday evening, it was the slow play of her opponent, Laura Siegemund, that was the main story.
The 19-year-old American is up to number six in the world after winning the Washington Open and Cincinnati Open in August. Entering the tournament, her odds to win her first grand slam hovered around +750.
Those odds were threatened quickly when Siegemund won the first set against Coco Gauff, 6-3, quieting a raucous crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. Gauff stormed back to win the second set 6-2, but it was the third set people will remember.
At 3-0 40-40 in the third set, Coco Gauff had enough of what she perceived as Siegemund being deliberately slow in between points on Gauff’s serve. And, she made her opinion known to the chair umpire.
Coco Gauff expressed her frustration to the chair umpire after she thought her opponent, Laura Siegemund, was slow to get ready for her serves several times. pic.twitter.com/WjXz4bskkt
— ESPN (@espn) August 29, 2023
The crowd, obviously behind Gauff, went wild. And, later in the third set, Siegemund was given a point penalty for slow play on game point at 4-1, before Coco Gauff held on to win the third set and the match, 6-4.
Next up for Coco Gauff is Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday.