Custom Search 1

Coco Gauff lands maiden WTA Tour title

PICTURED: Coco Gauff

CORI ‘COCO’ Gauff bounced back from her Singles disappointment at the Citi Open by claiming the Women's Double crown in Washington D.C. on Saturday (Aug 3).

The American teenage sensation and 17-year-old compatriot Catherine McNally saw off the no.4 seeds Maria Sanchez and Fanny Stollar in straight sets to land their inaugural WTA Tour title.

Gauff, playing in her third and final WTA Tour event - excluding Grand Slams - before she turns 16 next March, became an overnight hit last month following her 1st round success over Venus Williams at Wimbledon.

The Florida-based 15-year-old battled her way from the qualifiers to the last 16 at the All England Club, only stopped in her tracks by eventual champion Simona Halep of Romania.

Gauff's Singles run as a wildcard at the Citi Open ended with an unexpected opening round defeat to Zarina Diyas last Tuesday (Jul 30), a result that revenged the Kazakhstani's Doubles defeat the previous day.

But Gauff's week was hectic at the Citi Open, kicking off with qualifying on the opening weekend as well as playing an exhibition match and hosting a Kids' Day before reaching her first main draw since SW19.

Following her shock exit to Ziyas, she met former First Lady Michelle Obama on Thursday (Aug 1), when the pair exchanged signed goods. Gauff received a signed copy of Obama’s best-selling memoir "Becoming" and in exchange the 55-year-old was handed a signed tennis racquet from the teen.

Gauff polished off her unforgettable week with a solid victory on the John Harris Court at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center.

As a wildcard entry with McNally, the pair - nicknamed 'McCoco' - only needed 65 minutes to brush aside American Sanchez and Stollar of Hungary 6-2 6-2 and commanded the court much to the delight of the vocal spectators.

But it was obvious that the pair had a natural understanding on the court before teaming up at Washington's summer hard court classic. The duo last year triumphed in last year's US Open Girls' Doubles on their debut together.

And next month Gauff will be returning to the US Open to make her senior debut at New York's Flushing Meadows.

There will be high expectations on the teenager following her breakthrough tournament at the All England Club, and undoubtedly the majority of home fans will be willing her on to repeat those infamous Wimbledon exploits.

Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.