The very first thing Coco Gauff did after leaving the court docket in Arthur Ashe Stadium, along with her first Grand Slam trophy in hand, was don a sponsor’s T-shirt proclaiming her as a champion. So it begins.

Gauff has been within the obvious lights of fame since she was a 15-year-old taking part in into the fourth-round at Wimbledon, however after profitable the U.S. Open singles title on Saturday, these lights might change into blinding and the celebrity distracting. Extra endorsement affords will pour in — business shoots, look alternatives, enterprise initiatives, funding affords and invites to A-list social occasions will pile up within the close to and long run future.

Gauff has demonstrated a composed maturity in her time within the public eye, and he or she declared herself up for the problem of changing into much more well-known and wealthy, at the same time as she tries to maintain profitable essential tournaments.

“I’m prepared,” Gauff Mentioned after she beat Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. “I embrace it. I understand how to maintain my peace, but in addition embrace all of this round me.”

The extent of fame that comes with being an American teenager profitable the U.S. Open could be spellbinding and daunting for some. Gauff is the primary since Serena Williams received in 2001. Younger athletes in each sport have been overwhelmed by early success, fame and cash. They could lose focus, social gathering too exhausting, faucet out on the starvation that drove them to their first championship, or grew to become bigheaded.

That doesn’t appear to be a difficulty for Gauff, thus far. After accepting her examine for $3 million, Gauff casually thanked Billie Jean King, who was additionally on the stage, for combating for equal pay for girls, a gesture showcasing her perspective, humor and allure, multi functional.

“She is so humble,” mentioned Pere Riba, her coach, after the match. “Her work ethic is so sturdy, so skilled and he or she has superb manners. Put all of that collectively and she is going to solely get higher. She will deal with all of it.”

Riba has solely been working with Gauff, alongside Brad Gilbert, since June, proper earlier than Wimbledon. Gauff’s father, Corey Gauff, requested Riba to be his daughter’s coach this summer season on a short lived foundation that turned everlasting. Coco Gauff mentioned that her father really helpful hiring Gilbert, too. However Corey Gauff stays a gradual affect and inspiration.

“An important individual for Coco on the staff is the dad,” Riba mentioned. “The mother and father are actually, actually essential for her.”

Late Saturday night time, Corey Gauff emerged into the participant backyard, the place members of the family and pals had gathered, whereas Coco Gauff answered questions at a information convention. They cheered and rushed over to him as he held the coach’s trophy, and he smiled humbly and distributed hugs.

Tennis smart, Gauff nonetheless has room to enhance, a worrisome reality for opponents. She’s going to most likely add some energy to her spectacular pace recreation, and can proceed to shore up her forehand, which she principally cured earlier than the summer season exhausting court docket circuit started.

“She nonetheless has to proceed fixing,” Riba mentioned. “There have been previous habits, and it’s important to maintain cleansing these up each single day, proceed working as a result of it was a very long time doing it that method. However she corrects rather well.”

Within the subsequent few days Gauff’s schedule may very well be demanding. She will probably be requested to look on nationwide tv packages and pose for photograph shoots. She will probably be invited to events. Celebrities will attain out and a few, together with former President Barack Obama, who watched Gauff’s first match at this yr’s U.S. Open in Ashe, and posted his congratulations to her on social media Saturday, will specific their admiration.

For gamers like Emma Radacanu, who received her first U.S. Open at 18 two years in the past, claiming a significant trophy at an early age introduced riches and fame however not but constant tennis success. Since then, Radacanu has been ousted earlier than the third spherical within the 5 Grand Slam tournaments she entered after her victorious U.S. Open.

However Gauff, whose profession earnings earlier than Saturday from singles and doubles topped $8 million, was taking part in in her fifth U.S. Open, and other people have been pointing to her for years as the subsequent nice American champion. Success didn’t come straight away.

“This can be a massive achievement,” she mentioned, “However I really feel like I’ve been used to this since I used to be mainly 15 years previous. In highschool, doing on-line college, simply used to it.”

Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion, mentioned on Sky Sports activities after the match that within the subsequent few days Gauff’s head will probably be spinning “like a washer,” with all the eye and duties going through her. However Riba mentioned Gauff shouldn’t be solely ready for that.

“Coco is prepared for extra,” he mentioned.