Last year’s U.S. Open focused on goodbyes. This year, Gauff, the new singles champion, along with Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, burst through the front door with plans to stay.
Gauff, 19, has been in the spotlight since she was a 15-year-old playing Wimbledon, but after winning the U.S. Open singles title, those lights will burn far hotter.
It has been several decades since American tennis players dominated en masse this deep into their home Grand Slam tournament. The American tennis party looks to continue for at least a few more days.
Athletes from Tom Brady to Serena Williams to LeBron James have all been tabbed the Greatest of All Time. Faced with the term’s pervasive use, our columnist considers how sports heroes become transcendent.