Home favourite Gauff ready to derail Sabalenka in US Open final

NEW YORK : American teenager Coco Gauff can expect a capacity crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium to be in her corner as she fights formidable second seed Aryna Sabalenka for the U.S. Open crown on Saturday.

Sabalenka is already assured the number one spot in the new rankings after the tournament but does not expect an easy road to a second Grand Slam title this year, with vocal home fans hungry to see sixth seed Gauff collect her maiden major title.

"Of course I would prefer to have someone else or (the) crowd would be a little bit probably like the same to both players," Sabalenka said with a smile.

"I'm still hoping that probably some of them will be supporting me. Will be just a little bit. Just sometimes, please. Please."

The Belarusian won the Australian Open to kick off a superb 2023, beat Gauff en route to the Indian Wells final and defeated Iga Swiatek in the Madrid title match.

The Roland Garros and Wimbledon semi-finalist ended Swiatek's long reign as world number one thanks to a terrific New York campaign, where she did not drop a set until her late-night semi-final battle against American Madison Keys.

Sabalenka recovered from a demoralising 6-0 first set loss to beat the 2017 finalist Keys in a fightback for the ages after scarcely facing much of a challenge earlier in the tournament.

Relying on her booming forehand and powerful serve - she has sent over 32 aces in the tournament so far - Sabalenka overwhelmed 13th seed Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round and left China's Zheng Qinwen with no answers in the quarter-final.

"Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight. You have to fight for it."," said Sabalenka, who reached the semi-finals in the previous two editions