Coco Gauff advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time on Tuesday, overcoming a set deficit to defeat fourth seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American quarterfinal on Centre Court. The 22-year-old American, a two-time Grand Slam champion, rallied after struggling with early double faults and errors to secure a hard-fought victory that marked a significant milestone in her grass-court career.
Pegula, the highest remaining seed in the women’s draw, began strongly by breaking Gauff in the opening game and taking the first set. However, Gauff improved her serve consistency and reduced unforced errors in the second and third sets, turning the match around. Pegula was broken twice during the final two sets — once at 3-4 in the second and again at 3-3 in the decider — and was unable to mount a comeback. The match lasted just under two hours in sunny and warm conditions, with temperatures reaching the upper 80s Fahrenheit.
Gauff acknowledged the challenge of coming from behind, highlighting the importance of maintaining confidence in longer matches. “I’ve been going three sets almost every match. I feel like when you have that faith in yourself as a competitor, when the match goes a distance, you know when you lose one set, you’re not panicking,” she said during an on-court interview. She also reflected on her progress at Wimbledon, noting increased comfort walking onto Centre Court after seven years of participation, a shift from earlier nerves.
By reaching the semifinals, Gauff became the youngest player since Maria Sharapova in 2007 to reach the final four at all four major tournaments, according to the women’s professional tennis tour. Prior to this tournament, Gauff had never advanced beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon, but she has now won four consecutive three-set matches during the event, demonstrating improved endurance and adaptability on grass.
Her next opponent will be 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, the 2023 French Open runner-up, who defeated Naomi Osaka 7-6 (4), 6-4 on No. 1 Court to secure her semifinal spot. Gauff’s performance signals a potential breakthrough on grass, with her resilience and tactical adjustments playing key roles in her advancement after previous early exits at the tournament.
The match also underscored the physical demands of competing in warm weather, with players using ice packs and towels to manage the heat. Gauff briefly asked for an ice pack during the match to help with recovery during the changeovers.
As the tournament progresses toward Saturday’s final, Gauff’s success adds to a growing narrative of her maturity and adaptability on one of tennis’s most prestigious stages.