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Coco Gauff at the US Open. Alamy Stock Photo

Gauff and Djokovic book US Open semi-final spots

The 19-year-old dropped just two games as she blitzed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2.

LAST UPDATE | 5 Sep 2023

COCO GAUFF BECAME the first American teenager since Serena Williams in 2001 to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

The 19-year-old dropped just two games as she blitzed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0 6-2 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Latvian Ostapenko, the 20th seed, had blown the women’s draw wide open when she knocked out defending champion and world number one Iga Swiatek in round four.

But she was unable to take advantage of her own handiwork as Gauff raced away with the first set in only 20 minutes.

Ostapenko made more of a contest of it in the second set, finally managing to hold serve at the fifth attempt.

But Gauff completed the job in an hour and eight minutes to reach the last four of her home grand slam for the first time.

“It feels great, I’m so happy,” she said. “Last year I lost in the quarter-finals and I wanted to do better. There’s a long way to go but I’m happy and ready to go back to work.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel comfortable the whole match, even on match point. I know the game she plays. It’s really tough against her – you can’t really be aggressive. She’s a top player and she’s had a great tournament.

“There’s a saying in basketball that ‘defence wins games’. It doesn’t always work in tennis but today that was the case.”

Gauff will face the winner of Tuesday night’s match between Sorana Cirstea and Karolina Muchova in the last four.

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic powered into a record 47th Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 win over American ninth seed Taylor Fritz at the US Open.

Djokovic continues his push for a record-extending men’s 24th Grand Slam title in the last four against another home player, either 10th seed Frances Tiafoe or the up-and-coming Ben Shelton.

The 36-year-old Djokovic is through to the semi-finals in New York for the 13th time and is now 12-0 against Americans at the US Open.

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    Mute Meatloaf
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 2:56 PM

    Sheer boredom must have got him

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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:13 PM

    @Meatloaf: he didn’t start once this year, he was just getting a sub appearance at the end of most championship matches. May have been frustrated with that.

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    Mute Meatloaf
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:21 PM

    @Frainc Ó Broin: yeah bad enough having to play could you imagine being forced to sit there an watch most of them!

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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:27 PM

    @Meatloaf: you aren’t from Dublin and don’t remember the feeling of winning, it’s not something that gets boring. Worth noting mannion probably has studies to complete and the lad has given his all for so many years so deserves a break

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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:20 PM

    Unreal work rate and and ability to kick scores from any where. He’ll be missed for sure, thanks for your service Paul. Up the Dubs

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    Mute Gerard Smith
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:56 PM

    @my name: point taking is fabulous. Dependable from anywhere. A real loss to the team

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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:06 PM

    @Gerard Smith: I should have mentioned he kicks off either foot too. Massive loss

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    Mute Finnster
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:13 PM

    @my name: they are dropping like flies but the lads that are replacing them are just as good . Any chance they would take a year out and let Galway one of the traditional top four football teams in history win another one ; )))

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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:23 PM

    @Finnster: part of me would like that as Galway really are the only side capable of taking Sam across the Shannon pal. But nah. We want more titles

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    Mute James Gorman
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 9:20 PM

    @my name: just not unreal eneough to make the starting 15 now – hence his sensible decision not to give over his life to warm the bench. Dublin have the pick of a province. Ten more lads to fill his boots.

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    Jan 22nd 2021, 9:59 PM

    @James Gorman: unreal enough to get 3 All Stars in a row James

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    Mute Looney Tunes
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:01 PM

    Players have no interest as its too much commitment & 1 way traffic for the Dubs, no competition & the Dubs are expected to win sam every year now, monotonous every year, ps good luck Paul, a fabulous player

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    Mute Seán Óg
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:21 PM

    @Looney Tunes: Monotonous winning? That’s loser talk right there. You’re not from Mayo by any chance?

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    Mute Togs
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:24 PM

    @Looney Tunes: you lost me when you said the players have no interest. That’s complete and utter malarkey. You must now spend a few hours looking for the 5 lamps as a penance..

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    Mute Looney Tunes
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:02 PM

    @Seán Óg: it’s too easy Sean

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 7:41 PM

    @Togs: Why are they leaving early so?

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    Mute Togs
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 10:51 PM

    @Thomas O’ Donnell: ehh.. Not cuz it’s boring anyway fjs..

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:15 PM

    Apparently taking time off to complete his Masters

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 5:31 PM

    Great, great player with a sweet left foot. Good luck with the studies Paul and hope to see you back in blue in 22.

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    Mute Brian James Moss
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 3:08 PM

    Offaly for Sam!!

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    Mute Eddie Walsh
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:18 PM

    I think it’s very worrying that we are losing such Brilliant players from our game
    In any other Sport this would not happen
    Time for a rethink.

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    Mute JG
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:25 PM

    @Eddie Walsh: rethink of what exactly. Paddy A and MD are at retiring age and Mannion will be back. Don’t exaggerate the extent. Lads retire every year from every sport.

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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:25 PM

    @Eddie Walsh: players have careers to think of in Gaelic games though Eddie. Mannion already has to take a year out to got to China as part of his studies

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    Mute Moya Power-kelly
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    Jan 23rd 2021, 11:24 AM

    @Eddie Walsh: Paul’s taking a year out to consatrete on his master’s which he’s obviously decided he can’t do both he hasn’t actually come out and said he’s retiring from inter county football

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    Mute Stephen Mc Dermott
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    Jan 22nd 2021, 4:22 PM

    The weekly eulogy to retiring Dublin players is now as boring as the sport itself.

    Correct that, its sickening.

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