Coco Gauff recovered from a set down to beat fellow American Jessica Pegula on Centre Court, reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal after overcoming a difficult start and a third-set fightback.
Key Points
- Coco Gauff rallied from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach her first Wimbledon semifinal.
- The seventh seed recovered after a shaky start, cutting down her errors and winning the key moments in the final two sets.
- In the semis, Gauff will play Karolina Muchova, who ended Naomis Osaka's run.
- Gauff said the victory was especially satisfying after arriving at Wimbledon without a grass-court win in the previous two years.
Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to reach the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time after beating friend and former doubles partner Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in an all-American Centre Court clash on Tuesday.
The seventh seed and two-time Grand Slam winner, now the highest ranked player left in the women's singles draw, was on the back foot from the start against a fourth-seeded opponent who broke her in the opening game.
In the semis, she will take on Czech Karolina Muchova, who put it past four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka of Japan 7-6(4), 6-4.
Gauff got things under control in the second set, although she still had to survive two break points in the opening game, and halved the number of unforced errors as she fought back to break Pegula for 5-3 and hold serve.
The former US and French Open winner led the match for the first time when she broke Pegula to go 2-1 up in the final set.
Momentum Swings in the Decider
Her opponent broke back to 3-3 but Gauff replied with another immediate break for 4-3, held serve and then Pegula fell at the first match point.
"Pretty insane, honestly" was Gauff's immediate reaction to the win.
"Considering how I hadn't won a match on grass in two years before this tournament I'm definitely just really happy with how I played today."
Muchova downs Osaka to set up Gauff semi
Karolina Muchova overcame Naomi Osaka 7-6(4), 6-4 in an absorbing contest of athleticism, shot variety and tight margins to set up a Wimbledon semifinal against Coco Gauff.
The 29-year-old Czech, seeking a first Grand Slam title, proved the steadier player on a sizzling Court One, producing 21 unforced errors to Osaka's 42 while the pair sent down 24 winners apiece.
Not afraid to come to the net and volley, Muchova took the first set tiebreak with a forehand winner on her third set point.
Osaka, 28 and seeded 14th, had downed top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round.
But consistency deserted her as she served two double faults alongside two aces in the ninth game of the second set and missed a drive volley to drop her serve.
Tenth seed Muchova served out the set, finishing with an ace, to reach her first Wimbledon semifinal.
