One of the tennis world’s rising stars just took home Puerto Rico’s first-ever gold medal.

The 22-year-old native of the Hato Rey area of San Juan defeated Germany’s Angelique Kerber on Saturday evening to take home the crown.

Puig won 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to become the first athlete officially representing Puerto Rico to take home the gold medal.

“I think I united a nation,” Puig said following her win. “And I just love where I come from.”

“This is for [the people of Puerto Rico],” she said. “They’re going throught some tough times right now and they needed this and I needed this.”

— CJ Staff