New York, New York - When Coco Gauff lost to Sofia Kenin in the first round of Wimbledon just over two months ago, the 19-year-old admitted it was time to go back to the drawing board.

Whatever she did, it worked.

The athlete has won 17 of her last 18 matches since that surprise day-one defeat, picking up titles in Washington and Cincinnati.

After another win on Thursday night that couldn't be derailed by a climate protestor delay, she will face Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday in her first US Open final.

Athletes Tiger Woods says he has "a long way to go" after latest back surgery

"Right now, I’m very frustrated and disappointed," Gauff said back at Wimbledon. "It makes me want to work even harder.

"I feel like I’ve been working hard but clearly it’s not enough. I have to go back to the drawing board and see where I need to improve."

Since then, Gauff has linked up with coach Brad Gilbert, tidied up her susceptible forehand, and zipped through the field at Flushing Meadows.

"Yeah, definitely after Wimbledon I wasn’t expecting to do well honestly in this hard-court season, so I’m really proud of the way I have been able to turn this season around for me," she said.

"I think, honestly, when I had that at Wimbledon I was really sort of thinking about the off-season and preparing for next year. You know, I still think I have a lot to improve, but yeah, 100% I wasn’t thinking these results would happen.

"Even after DC, I didn’t think this would happen. Even after Cincy, I didn’t think this would happen. I’m really proud of myself, and like I said, there is still a long way to go.

"Yeah, I think I can improve a lot, but how I have been able to manage with the game I have now is something that I’m happy with."

She has spoken in the past about learning to enjoy the game and shake off comparisons.

Gauff dispatched Karolina Muchova in straight sets in their protest-interrupted semi-final, before Sabalenka came from a bagel down to beat another American, Madison Keys, in a deciding tie-break.

The Belarusian, who will become world number one on Monday, said: "Going into this final, I think I just have to focus on myself and prepare myself for another fight.

"Coco, I mean, she’s moving really well. She’s hungry. She kind of like has nothing to lose. She knows that the crowd is going to support her. I think that’s what makes her a really difficult opponent."

Coco also scored another dream when she won in front of Justin Bieber at the US Open earlier this week.

She will vie for the US Open Women's Singles Final on Saturday at 4 PM EST in Queens, New York.