History awaits Coco Gauff.
The 19-year old has long been heralded as the face of American tennis’ future. Gauff was one of numerous young talents to emerge in the shadow of Serena Williams’ dominance, alongside such luminaries as Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu. Many assumed it was only a matter of time before the teenager started competing for Grand Slam titles.
Well, that time has come; Gauff is one of the best players in the world. And after standout displays against Jelena Ostapenko and Karolina Muchova, Gauff finds herself on the cusp of the promised land.
All that separates her from US Open glory is a matchup against Belarusian star Aryna Sabalenka. Gauff should get all she can handle from Sabalenka, the world’s No. 2-ranked player and a former Australian Open winner. Still, Gauff has been nothing short of dominant in her run to the title match. If she can conjure up a little more magic on the concrete jungle that is Arthur Ashe Stadium, she can etch her name into the stars…right alongside Williams, the last American teenager to hoist the glint silver bowl.
MORE: Watch 2023 US Open matches live with Fubo (free trial)
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Saturday’s US Open women’s final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka. Follow below for highlights and live results as Gauff seeks to make history at Flushing Meadows.
Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka score
| Player | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco Gauff | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka live updates, highlights from US Open 2023
(All times Eastern)
5:52 p.m.: Gauff opens the set with a momentous victory on the rally! Fires a ball past Sabalenka courtesy of her frenzied movement.
Third set
5:43 p.m.: Gauff scores a set win! We’re going to three! Gauff’s frenetic pace is starting to wear down Sabalenka, who can’t compare to the 19-year old in terms of foot speed.
5:38 p.m.: Sabalenka holds! Gauff has a chance to serve for the set!
5:33 p.m.: Gauff almost has things level! Sabalenka’s return strays far, giving Gauff her fifth game of the set.
5:28 p.m.: Phenomenal winner by Sabalenka, who lofts one right over Gauff’s head with a shot from the heavens. A moment of magic from both players as Sabalenka wins the break.
5:24 p.m.: The nerves are going haywire at the moment! Gauff extends her edge to three, taking advantage of some more Sabalenka errors. It’s been a sloppy match of tennis thus far. The winner won’t care too much, though, I reckon.
5:18 p.m.: Gauff with yet another win! Sabalenka’s unforced errors prove costly. She’s right back in the mix!
5:09 p.m.: Gauff takes the game! Tight one to watch, but Gauff got the job done when it counted.
5:08 p.m.: Sabalenka holds her service game, drawing the score level at one apiece in Set No. 2. Far more composed showing by the Belarusian.
5:04 p.m.: Gauff gets herself out of a hole! She was down 40-15 and looked in fear of dropping her fifth straight game. But she pulled things together with aplomb, taking Game No. 1 of the second set after a couple uncharacteristic Sabalenka.
Second set
4:58 p.m.: Gauff sends her shot into the net and Sabalenka takes Set No. 1! She’s one set away from her first US Open title. Big road back for Gauff, who proved far more cautious than she has over the past few matches.
4:57 p.m.: Sabalenka is in her duffel. Making the right reads and keeping Gauff on her toes. She has a chance for set point.
4:52 p.m.: Sabalenka on the brink of a set victory. The Belarusian’s strategy of attacking Gauff on her forehand has paid off in spades. It will be interesting to see if Gauff can make any adjustments on it going forward.
4:49 p.m.: Unbelievable point by Sabalenka, who spikes the ball beyond Gauff’s grasp despite the teenager’s best efforts. She takes the game after Gauff spills a return far, giving her a two game lead.
4:47 p.m.: Strong serve from Sabalenka sees Gauff’s temporary advantage dissipate. We’ve seen the best and worst of the No. 1 player in the world thus far.
4:40 p.m.: But she gets it together enough to sit down Gauff for her third game of the day. She’ll enter the break up three games to two.
4:39 p.m.: Sabalenka spoons another sitter and she loses her advantage! Jekyllish-type display for the Belarusian thus far.
4:36 p.m.: Gauff’s forehand has been hit or miss thus far. But it just came up big for her in Game No. 5, drawing her level at 40 apiece.
4:34 p.m.: Sabalenka hits the net and Gauff takes Game No. 4! Things are getting interesting.
4:33 p.m.: Another double fault for Sabalenka! Gauff is on the brink of evening the score at two games apiece!
4:31 p.m.: The errors are starting to spill into Sabalenka’s game. Quick double fault puts her in a hole to start Game No. 4.
4:28 p.m.: The strategy for Sabalenka seems simple: target Gauff’s forehand. It has proved effective thus far, although Gauff just touched the chalk with a beautiful forehand. That gets her on the board, halving her deficit to just one game down.
4:27 p.m.: Another laser puts the game away for Sabalenka. Wonderful start by the Belarus native. Gauff in a bit of a hole early.
4:25 p.m.: Still early tidings for Gauff. However, Sabalenka has been a menace through the opening two games. Firing bullets with hellfire attached to them. Gauff has to weather the storm.
4:23 p.m.: First game goes to Sabalenka, who rips a couple efforts — one on the forehand, one of the backhand — beyond the American. She looks in fine form to start.
4:21 p.m.: Strong defensive play by Gauff, coupled with a mishit by Sabalenka, pulls Gauff level at 40 in the first game. Enthralling contest thus far.
4:20 p.m.: Gauff’s forehand skews wide early. Sabalenka’s forehand is serious. Gauff’s is improving, but still is a weak point of her game. She’ll have to tighten it up to compete with the Belarusian.
First set
4:18 p.m.: Here we go! Gauff serves Sabalenka to start!
4:10 p.m.: Gauff struts onto the surface. She looks primed and ready to go. She’s also enveloped in a wall of sound.
4:07 p.m.: Gauff and Sabalenka have met twice before. The first match, which took place in Toronto back in 2022, went to Gauff. Contest No. 2 took place earlier this year, with Sabalenka nabbing the victory at Indian Wells.
4:00 p.m.: Cecile McLoran Salvant singing “America, the Beautiful.” The internationally-acclaimed jazz vocalist has a voice like an angel. Nice start to the festivities, in my estimation.
3:44 p.m.: Sabalenka has trekked a long way to make it to her first US Open final. She had to string together quite the comeback to get herself into the championship match, overcoming a 6-0 first set defeat to Madison Keys to make it through. She’ll be hoping for a more steady showing this time around.
3:38 p.m.: Coco Gauff is born for this. 11 years ago, Gauff was dancing at the US Open final, a child rollicking as she watched her icons take the court. Now, she’s playing in it. Poetic justice, some might say.
How to watch Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka at US Open 2023
ESPN will broadcast the US Open final between Gauff and Sabalenka on Saturday. Gauff comes into the match having vanquished No. 10 Karolina Muchova in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Sabalenka enters the final as the higher seed, having rallied from a 6-0 shutout in the first set to defeat American Madison Keys, 0-6, 7-6, 7-6.
Cord-cutters can find the match on ESPN+ as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Note: Spectrum cable customers are unable to watch ESPN due to the ongoing carriage dispute between Disney and Charter Communications.
MORE: Tracking Coco Gauff’s performance at the 2023 US Open
What time is Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka today?
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
Gauff’s match with Sabalenka will start at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. The pair will meet at center court at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.
US Open TV schedule 2023
Here’s a complete look at the TV schedule for the remainder of the 2023 US Open.
| Date | Time (ET) | Round | TV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Sept. 7 | 7-11 p.m. | Semifinals (women) | ESPN |
| Fri., Sept. 8 | Noon-2 p.m. | Doubles final (men) | ESPN2 |
| 3-6 p.m. | Semifinals (men) | ESPN | |
| 7-11 p.m. | Semifinals (men) | ESPN | |
| Sat., Sept. 9 | Noon-2 p.m. | Mixed doubles championship | ESPN3 |
| 4-7 p.m. | Championship (women) | ESPN | |
| Sun., Sept. 10 | 1-3 p.m. | Doubles championship (women) | ESPN |
| 4-7 p.m. | Championship (men) | ESPN |