Coco Gauff Marches Into US Open Women's Singles Final With Straight Sets Win Over Karolina Muchova

American teenager Coco Gauff defeated Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova to qualify for her maiden US Open Women's Singles final. The 19-year-old American secured a 6-4, 7-5 victory over the Czech player, booking her spot in a US Open final for the first time in history. Earlier, the US Open women's singles semi-final was plunged into chaos on Thursday after climate activists disrupted play, forcing a 50-minute stoppage as the tennis showpiece became the latest sporting event to be targeted by protesters.

The semi-final clash between American teenager Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova in the Arthur Ashe Stadium was halted in game two of the second set as three protesters wearing t-shirts with the slogan "end fossil fuels" began chanting the same message.

The protesters were greeted with jeers and chants of "kick them out" by other spectators as security staff moved in.

One of the protesters glued his feet to the concrete floor of the stadium, preventing his swift removal from the arena, tournament officials said.

The delay occurred as Muchova prepared to serve early in the second set with Gauff leading 6-4, 1-0 just after 8pm local time.

With AFP inputs