Coco Gauff has added another milestone to her growing tennis résumé.
The American star reached her first Wimbledon semifinal after rallying past fellow American Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals. Gauff recovered from a first-set deficit to earn a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory on Centre Court. The comeback marked another display of resilience from the two-time Grand Slam champion.
The result represents Gauff’s deepest run at the All England Club. Before this year, she had never advanced beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon. The breakthrough also completes another career achievement. Gauff has now reached at least the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
The match followed a familiar script for Gauff during this tournament. She dropped the opening set before settling into her rhythm. Her movement improved as the match continued. She also reduced unforced errors and dictated more rallies with her aggressive baseline game.
Pegula entered the quarterfinal after an impressive tournament of her own. She challenged Gauff throughout the opening set. Her consistent serving and clean ball striking helped her claim an early advantage.
Gauff refused to panic.
Instead, she trusted the same formula that carried her through several difficult matches during the tournament. Her defense frustrated Pegula during the second set. She also found better depth on her groundstrokes and converted key break-point opportunities.
After the victory, Gauff reflected on her confidence during three-set matches.
“I’ve been going three sets almost every match,” Gauff said during her on-court interview. “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.”
The statement reflected a mindset that has become one of her greatest strengths. Gauff has repeatedly shown an ability to recover after slow starts.
Confidence Growing Before Final Four
Gauff’s Wimbledon run has featured several comeback victories. Earlier in the tournament, she defeated Belinda Bencic to reach her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. That match finished just minutes before the tournament’s nightly curfew.
She admitted afterward that the pressure of the clock created an unusual situation.
“I’m super happy to be in the quarterfinals finally,” Gauff said after defeating Bencic. “I was looking at the clock in the last service game and I was like, ‘I have to hit some big serves and big shots.’”
She added, “That was probably the most dramatic finish. I’ve never had to race against time. Playing tennis, we’re used to not having a clock, but today I felt the pressure.”
Those tense moments appear to have strengthened her confidence entering the tournament’s final stages.
Gauff arrived at Wimbledon carrying questions about her grass-court game. Despite winning major titles on hard courts and clay, success on grass had remained elusive. Earlier in the season, she endured a difficult stretch on the surface. Her performances in London have quieted many of those concerns.
The 22-year-old now stands among the tournament’s final four with an opportunity to reach her first Wimbledon championship match. She is also the youngest player since Maria Sharapova to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam events.
Her semifinal opponent will be Karolina Muchova. The matchup features two versatile players who rely on athleticism, creativity and defensive skills. Gauff holds the advantage in their previous meetings, although this will be their first encounter on Wimbledon grass.
Regardless of the outcome, Gauff has already achieved a career-best result at the sport’s oldest major. Her latest performance reinforces her status as one of tennis’ brightest stars.
She has proven she can win on every surface. Now, she is only one victory away from playing for the Wimbledon title.