Google News Coco Gauff recounts winning first WTA title at 15 on 4th anniversary of 2019 Linz win
by DZEVAD MESIC
An X post reminded Coco Gauff of her first WTA title and the 19-year-old American made it pretty clear it will always be a pretty special moment in her career. On October 13th, 2019, Gauff became a WTA champion at the age of 15 after beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 1-6 6-2 in the Linz final.
On X, a Gauff fan account posted about the fourth anniversary of the American's 2019 Linz win. Gauff noticed the post and reacted: "I want to hug her."
I want to hug her 🥺 https://t.co/1PVbylLbEu — Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) October 14, 2023
Gauff on winning her first title at 15 in Linz
In 2019 Linz, Gauff didn't even make the main draw directly.
Instead, Gauff had to play in the qualifying event, where she won her opening match before losing to Tamara Korpatsch in the qualifying final round. After losing to Korpatsch, Gauff still made the Linz main draw as a lucky loser.
The rest is history as Gauff went on to win five main draw matches and clinch her first title in Linz. "I’m still overwhelmed and shocked. I guess it’s crazy to say it’s my first WTA title. This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get in, and now I’m the champion, so it’s crazy," Gauff said after winning her first WTA title in Linz.
En route to winning Linz, Gauff defeated Stefanie Voegele, Kateryna Baindl, Kiki Bertens, Andrea Petkovic and Ostapenko. "It’s just literally insane that I got in as a lucky loser and now I’m the champion. My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match, he said ‘You can’t lose twice in the same tournament!’.
I’m sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right!" Today, Gauff has six titles in her collection. Last month, Gauff lifted her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.