Former doubles World No. 3 Casey Dellacqua singled out Coco Gauff's comeback win in the 2023 US Open final as the "match of the year" in the first of her two memorable moments of 2023.
Dellacqua, a former French Open mixed doubles champion, currently works as a commentator and shared her thoughts on the season that just finished over a month ago during a recent episode of the AO Show.
Gauff memorably defeated World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka to win her first Grand Slam crown in September. Success arrived on the back of a sizzling run of form during the US swing in which the American teenager swept titles in Washington and Cincinnati.
The 19-year-old became the youngest American champion at the US Open in the 21st century and the first home teenager to win the New York Slam since the legendary Serena Williams in 1999. Dellacque believes Gauff showed grit, unheard of for someone her age and in such a whirlwind of emotions on a big stage.
"This 2023 season has wrapped up, and I've been asked to share a couple of my... My most memorable moments from the season. So, well, actually one, but I'm going to go with two. My first one, probably match of the year, kind of tournament of the year, is the US Open win from Coco Gauff for me."
"She [Gauff] just played some exceptional tennis at only 19 years of age. I just think she's going to be such an exciting player to watch for many years to come. She came back from a set down against Sabalenka in the final one, the first set, lost the second set, and just showed such grit. And I think that's something worthy of highlighting."
The retired Australian player then picked Iga Swiatek's season as one of the best memories to come from 2023. The Polish star won her third Roland Garros title in June and, despite losing the World No. 1 ranking briefly to Sabalenka, reclaimed it after winning the WTA Finals in Cancun.
"Other one is Iga Swiatek. Got one major title at the Roland Garros, but she only lost 20 games through the WTA finals and finished world number one. So well-deserved from Iga Swiatek."
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