LONDON — Coco Gauff is seeking to overcome past struggles on grass as she advances to the semifinals at Wimbledon for the first time in her career. The 22-year-old American, who made a breakthrough at the tournament as a 15-year-old by defeating five-time champion Venus Williams in 2019, had since experienced difficulties on the surface, entering this year’s Wimbledon without a grass-court win in nearly two years.

Gauff’s recent run has marked a notable turnaround. She defeated No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula in a three-set quarterfinal match, prevailing 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Tuesday at Centre Court. Gauff acknowledged the challenge Wimbledon has presented, citing a complicated history with the surface. However, she said this year she focused on refining her fundamentals rather than aiming for spectacular points, which has helped her adapt her game to the unique demands of grass courts.

“To me, it’s about trusting my groundstrokes and playing within myself,” Gauff said. “I don’t think I need to hit spectacular shots every time to win.”

Her next opponent will be Karolina Muchova of Czechia, the No. 10 seed, who also reached her first Wimbledon semifinal after defeating four-time major champion Naomi Osaka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Muchova has faced physical challenges with allergies on grass courts but said she manages them with various medications. Her game, based on slices and volleys, is well-suited to grass, although she has struggled with injuries in previous Wimbledons, exiting early in each of the last four years.

The matchup presents a clash of styles, with the athletic and defensive Gauff facing Muchova’s technical and craftily aggressive play. Despite Gauff holding a 6-1 advantage in their overall head-to-head meetings, neither player has competed against the other on grass before. Muchova said having a 0-0 record on grass provided a balanced starting point.

Gauff’s path to the semifinals has been characterized by endurance and resilience. She has been pushed to three sets in each of her last four matches at the tournament, a scenario where she typically excels. Her ability to extend rallies and sustain pressure has been noted by former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, who highlighted Gauff’s strength in longer, more physically demanding matches.

In a tournament notable for its unpredictability, all four women’s semifinalists are appearing in this stage at Wimbledon for the first time, reflecting the open nature of the competition. The other semifinal will feature Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk against Czech player Linda Noskova.

Gauff, currently the highest-ranked player remaining in the women’s singles draw, expressed confidence and ambition moving forward. “Obviously I’m not satisfied,” she said. “I want to go all the way.” A victory would mark her first Wimbledon title and return her to the position of top-ranked American in women’s tennis, while also potentially rewriting her history with the grass courts of the All England Club.