19 year old Coco Gauff captured the hearts of America yesterday with her win at the US Open. She conquered a bigger stronger opponent in the world’s #1 ranked player, Aryna Sabalenka. It was a David versus Goliath story, but her performance and the implications of her victory extends far beyond that. Coco Gauff’s victory and emergence on the scene is a force multiplier in women’s sports search for respect and its rightful place in the world of sports.

Here is why Coco Gauff’s performance was so significant. It is a Cinderella story and a story people love to talk about because at first glance Coco Gauff doesn’t look like US Open championship material. She doesn’t have the athletic and statuesque look of a Venus Williams. She doesn’t have the obvious power and force of a Serena Williams. You look at the Williams sisters and it is easy to believe that they are great athletes. Coco Gauff doesn’t look like much from afar. She’s small, slender, and unassuming looking. But when she moves on the tennis court she unleashes a game that is nothing short of jaw dropping. She is the energizer bunny personified. No one can get a ball by her unless it is a perfect shot delivered at maximum speed. She is the quickest and perhaps already the best returner of impossible shots in tennis history.

At the US Open final she ran down powerful and seemingly impossible shots delivered by her bigger, stronger opponent which ultimately wore down and frustrated Sabalenka and caused her to make numerous unforced errors. Sabalenka came to realize that only a perfect placed howitzer could get past Coco and that realization wore her down mentally which eventually led to numerous unforced errors.

Women’s sports needs heroes and Coco Gauff has suddenly become one of those in the most compelling way. And at 19 years old she’ll be around for a while. She’s also extremely articulate for a 19-year-old. In her acceptance speech at the US Open she gave a lesson of motivation and made a point of thanking those “doubters” that tried to put “water” on her “fire” but only served to her fuel her desire and make this victory that much sweeter. I imagine they were people like us that took a look at her and thought there is no way this slight little girl could overcome these bigger, stronger, and more experienced opponents. Boy did we underestimate her and she wants us to know it.

Coco Gauff will be a huge catalyst for women’s sport for one simple reason: she will draw viewership and be a shining example for young and old alike that female athletes are remarkable and should be valued and appreciated. The reason is that she is truly remarkable, and we have been conditioned to value remarkable athletes. Think about why we watch sports—to marvel at the remarkable. People loved to watch and comment that there is no one else as fluid, intense and explosive as Michael Jordan, or there is no one as powerful and dominant as Shaq, or there is no one that is built like Lebron who is an irresistible force year after year. We love to watch these iconic athletes and talk about their extraordinary qualities as we marvel at their performance.

Now we have Coco Gauff to marvel at and people will tune in to watch and comment on her remarkable athleticism. “no one can get the ball by her—just watch”, will be the conversation. And that conversation will drive viewership, respect, and admiration not only from young girls but from all sports fans. It will help condition us that female athletes should be valued. We often hear the phrase “you can’t be it if you can’t see it” and young girls will be seeing a lot of Coco Gauff over the years, giving them a reason to believe and moving culture in a way that elevates the perceived value of women’s sports