Most prodigies never live up to the hype. Even for those who were sufficiently talented in the first place, there are so many obstacles on the pathway to success, so many ways that a sporting career can be derailed. Since her breakthrough four years ago, however, Coco Gauff has shown that her mental fortitude and emotional maturity are equal to any singular tennis shot and those qualities have carried her all the way to the top. In the biggest match of her life against the best player in the world, Gauff drew upon those qualities once more as she brilliantly recovered from a one-set deficit to topple Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. With her first grand slam title, the 19-year-old has completed an astonishing, dominant hard court swing that was initially heading in the opposite direction after a painful first round exit at Wimbledon. Every other week since has seen Gauff better her best title, winning the Washington WTA 500 event, then Cincinnati, a WTA 1000 tournament, before closing off the summer …

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