The US Open women's singles final marked the culmination of the US Open's 50th anniversary of equal prize money celebration, commemorating Billie Jean King's pioneering efforts to make the 1973 US Open the first sporting event to pay women and men competitors equally.

Saturday in Arthur Ashe Stadium, we witnessed another historic first: Coco Gauff's maiden Grand Slam title. The 19-year-old became the first American teenager to win the US Open crown since Serena Williams in 1999.

After defeating soon-to-be world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, the American collected a $3 million champion's check.

"Thank you, Billie, for fighting for this," Gauff said before King presented her with the trophy.

On the court, Gauff had the task of fighting off a red-hot start from Sabalenka, who dictated everything in a one-sided opening set. In the face of Sabalenka's unrivaled power, Gauff turned the tide with her unrelenting court coverage. Whether she was ranging out wide to return perfectly placed serves or scrambling deep to lob back lasered groundstrokes, all those extra balls added up to a big payoff for the American.