Coco Gauff, filmed dancing at US Open 11 years ago, now a champion
This 8-year-old dancing queen is now queen of the US Open.
Coco Gauff hinted at her future as a US Open champion 11 years ago when she was filmed dancing in the stands at Flushing Meadows to Carly Ray Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.”
Adorable video circulating online after the 19-year-old’s emotional victory shows a young Gauff, just 8-years-old at the time, dancing and jumping at Arthur Ashe Stadium –where she would reign champion more than a decade later.
The teen phenom made tennis history on Saturday after her 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Aryna Sabalenka in the U.S. Open final — her first-ever Grand Slam win.
Gauff is the first American to win in Queens since 2017, and the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999.
![Coco Gauff dancing as an 8-year-old girl](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000032949338.jpg?w=1024)
![Coco Gauff](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/NYPICHPDPICT000032948041.jpg?w=683)
There was less dancing for Gauff at this US Open, but there was still plenty of celebration.
As soon as she scored the final point off Sabalenka — a 25-year-old Belarusian and top-ranked female player in the world — she collapsed on the court and broke into tears as the crowd erupted.
She then ran off the court for a heartwarming embrace with her family.
“Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” tennis’ newest star told the crowd to cheers after her hard-fought victory.
“Those who thought [they] were putting on water on my fire, they were really putting gas on it and I’m really burning so bright right now.”