Coco Gauff recovered from a shaky start to defeat fellow American Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday, securing her first Wimbledon semi-final appearance. The seventh seed overcame 17 unforced errors and four double faults in the opening set to rally past the fourth seed.
Gauff's Error-Strewn Start
Pegula, who had dropped only one set en route to the quarter-finals and held a 5-3 head-to-head advantage, broke Gauff immediately after two double faults. Gauff struggled with her forehand, spraying shots long, while Pegula remained composed, punishing short balls with flat groundstrokes. Although Gauff briefly levelled at 3-3, another double fault handed Pegula the break, and she served out the set 6-4.
Turning Point in the Second Set
Facing two break points in the opening game of the second set, Gauff escaped with a stunning backhand winner down the line after chasing down difficult balls. Her serve gradually settled, and she began dictating play with heavy topspin. At 4-3, a blistering forehand return earned three break points, and Pegula's first double fault handed Gauff the break. Gauff served out the set with an ace, roaring as Centre Court erupted.
Decisive Third Set
Pegula threatened early in the decider, creating break-point opportunities, but Gauff held firm. An exquisite lob volley set up two break points, and when Pegula's forehand drifted wide, Gauff took the lead. She finished with seven aces and played aggressively, stepping inside the baseline to control rallies. Serving for the match at 5-3, Gauff closed out with a fourth consecutive three-set victory at Wimbledon.
“In the first set I was rushing out of some points too early,” Gauff said. “Towards the end, I really homed in on my game and realised I don't have to play a spectacular point every time to win.”
Pegula acknowledged Gauff's adjustment: “Kudos to her. She made me feel uncomfortable. I started off returning really well... then it just kind of flipped.”
Gauff's Grass-Court Breakthrough
Gauff, who first captivated Wimbledon as a 15-year-old in 2019 by beating Venus Williams, had not won a grass-court match in two years before this tournament. She credited a focused training block on grass for her improvement. “In the past there's commentary on my game, how it doesn't mesh with this surface,” Gauff said. “This is the first year I've had a real training block on grass... I was able to focus on footwork and specifics.”
Gauff now faces Karolina Muchova for a place in the final, as the highest seed remaining in the women's singles draw.
