National

Anisimova, Gauff set up all-American girls' singles final

Andrew Eichenholz | September 09, 2017


Just minutes before one all-American final wrapped up inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Sloane Stephens defeating No. 15 Madison Keys to win the women's singles title, another all-American female final was formed.

The two remaining girls from the United States, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova and unseeded Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff, both advanced to the US Open junior girls' singles final Saturday in straight sets, making it three straight Grand Slam tournaments at which two American girls have contested the junior final.

“I think it’s really, really good for American tennis,” Gauff said. “All-American final at Wimbledon, all-American final at Roland Garros, and now I’m glad I was able to close it out and get an all-American final here. I think that so far American tennis, especially on the women’s side, is striving right now.”

Gauff won the final nine games of her semifinal to defeat Maria Lourdes Carle, 7-5, 6-0, while Anisimova won 11 of the final 13 games of her match to defeat Emiliana Arango, 6-4, 6-1. Neither player has dropped a set in the tournament.

“I talked to my dad, and he calmed me down,” said Gauff of when she trailed 4-5 in the opening set, before winning the final nine games of the match against the Argentine. “I think my level raised a little bit, and then after the momentum when I won the set, I just didn’t stop.”

Carle had a chance to halt the momentum at the beginning of the second set with three consecutive break points, but Gauff dug out of a 0-40 hole by winning five straight points to hold, and she never looked back. The 13-year-old had never played a Grand Slam main draw before this visit to Flushing Meadows, yet she is now in the final against another American who is also attempting to claim her first Grand Slam title.

Anisimova’s semifinal victory was like déjà vu, just a day after she won 12 of the last 13 games in her quarterfinal victory. Despite 18 unforced errors in the first set, Anisimova was able to steady her game, making just nine unforced errors in the second set in the dominant hour-long victory.

“I feel really good right now,” Anisimova said. “I feel pretty confident this tournament.”

Anisimova lost in the Roland Garros final last season as a 14-year-old, making this her second opportunity to win a junior Slam. It will be her last, too, as the world No. 182 on the women’s circuit will only play one more junior event after this, at Junior Fed Cup later this month.

“That would be amazing, to win my first title,” Anisimova said. “That’s my biggest goal right now. So just going to go for it and just play like I’ve been playing every day.”

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