- Coco Gauff Reaches First Wimbledon Semi-final After Comeback Win Over Jessica Pegula
American tennis star Coco Gauff produced another impressive comeback to defeat compatriot Jessica Pegula and secure a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her career.
The 22-year-old battled back from a set down to claim a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory on Centre Court on Tuesday, continuing her remarkable turnaround on grass after arriving at the Championships without a grass-court win since 2024.
Gauff needed one hour and 48 minutes to overcome Pegula in a high-quality quarter-final contest, dominating the latter stages of the match with powerful serving and aggressive shot-making.
The two-time Grand Slam champion struck seven aces to Pegula’s two, hit 25 winners and converted all five of her break-point opportunities to seal victory.
“I’m just happy to get through to the semis,” Gauff said after the match.
“I think after seven years of playing this tournament, it’s finally the first time I walked onto Centre Court without feeling nervous.”
The victory marks another significant milestone in Gauff’s career, as she has now reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Her journey at this year’s Wimbledon has been particularly remarkable. After ending a two-year wait for a grass-court victory with a straight-sets win over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in the opening round, Gauff has gone on to win four consecutive three-set matches to book her place among the final four.
Reflecting on her impressive run, Gauff admitted she never imagined such success after struggling on grass in recent seasons.
“It’s pretty insane, considering I hadn’t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament,” she said.
“I’m really happy with how I played today. Jess is an incredible opponent and person. Playing against her is never easy.”
The win also improved Gauff’s head-to-head record against Pegula to four victories in nine meetings. The two Americans have frequently partnered each other in doubles, making Tuesday’s encounter even more special.
Gauff will now face either Japan’s Naomi Osaka or Czech star Karolina Muchova in Thursday’s semi-final as she bids to reach her maiden Wimbledon final.
Her impressive run could also have significant implications for the WTA rankings. A Wimbledon title would see Gauff become the highest-ranked American woman, overtaking Pegula, while she is already projected to climb to world No. 4 following her semi-final appearance.
Elsewhere at the All England Club, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the men’s semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
The Italian will face either Serbia’s Novak Djokovic or Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the Wimbledon final.
American tennis star Coco Gauff produced another impressive comeback to defeat compatriot Jessica Pegula and secure a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her career.
The 22-year-old battled back from a set down to claim a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory on Centre Court on Tuesday, continuing her remarkable turnaround on grass after arriving at the Championships without a grass-court win since 2024.
Gauff needed one hour and 48 minutes to overcome Pegula in a high-quality quarter-final contest, dominating the latter stages of the match with powerful serving and aggressive shot-making.
The two-time Grand Slam champion struck seven aces to Pegula’s two, hit 25 winners and converted all five of her break-point opportunities to seal victory.
“I’m just happy to get through to the semis,” Gauff said after the match.
“I think after seven years of playing this tournament, it’s finally the first time I walked onto Centre Court without feeling nervous.”
The victory marks another significant milestone in Gauff’s career, as she has now reached the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments.
Her journey at this year’s Wimbledon has been particularly remarkable. After ending a two-year wait for a grass-court victory with a straight-sets win over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch in the opening round, Gauff has gone on to win four consecutive three-set matches to book her place among the final four.
Reflecting on her impressive run, Gauff admitted she never imagined such success after struggling on grass in recent seasons.
“It’s pretty insane, considering I hadn’t won a match on grass in two years before this tournament,” she said.
“I’m really happy with how I played today. Jess is an incredible opponent and person. Playing against her is never easy.”
The win also improved Gauff’s head-to-head record against Pegula to four victories in nine meetings. The two Americans have frequently partnered each other in doubles, making Tuesday’s encounter even more special.
Gauff will now face either Japan’s Naomi Osaka or Czech star Karolina Muchova in Thursday’s semi-final as she bids to reach her maiden Wimbledon final.
Her impressive run could also have significant implications for the WTA rankings. A Wimbledon title would see Gauff become the highest-ranked American woman, overtaking Pegula, while she is already projected to climb to world No. 4 following her semi-final appearance.
Elsewhere at the All England Club, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner advanced to the men’s semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
The Italian will face either Serbia’s Novak Djokovic or Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime for a place in the Wimbledon final.
