After racing out to a 5-0 lead in the deciding set, Gauff dropped two late games to Ostapenko before closing out the match.
The teenager’s progression to her first title included her first-ever victory over a top 10 player after losing in the final round of qualifying to enter the main draw as a lucky loser.
“I’m still overwhelmed and shocked,” Gauff said on the WTA’s website
“I guess it’s crazy to say it’s my first WTA title. This was definitely not on the calendar at the beginning of the year, because I didn’t think I’d have a chance to get in, and now I’m the champion, so it’s crazy.”
“It’s just literally insane that I got in as a lucky loser and now I’m the champion.
“My dad told me when I got in, before the first main-draw match, he said ‘You can’t lose twice in the same tournament!'”
“I’m sure he never thought it would come this far, to being the champion, but I guess he was right!”
