They grow up fast these days, and none faster than Coco Gauff. In September, she is a U.S. Open finalist, the star attraction of her home Grand Slam tournament and the new face of her sport in America. Gauff, the 19-year-old prodigy from steamy South Florida, beat Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 7-5, to reach her first U.S. Open singles final on a warm and heavy Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Muchova’s all-court game and the strangest of atmospherics tested her as never before, but in the end the night went her way in front a crowd that exploded for her over and over along the way. “Some of those points were so loud I don’t know if my ears are going to be OK,” she said in her on-court interview.

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Persons: Coco Gauff, Karolina Muchova, Arthur Ashe, atmospherics Locations: U.S, America, steamy South Florida, Czech Republic