Coco Gauff produced one of her best-ever Wimbledon performances to defeat Jessica Pegula on Tuesday afternoon.
Gauff, who had never advanced past the fourth round before this year’s event, advanced to the semi-finals after beating Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court.
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The American star, a winner of two Grand Slam titles, will play Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova in the last four.
Gauff offered her thoughts on the match in the immediate aftermath, describing the result as ‘pretty insane’ in light of her past struggles at Wimbledon.
Coco Gauff did not feel nervous walking onto Wimbledon Centre Court for the first time ever
“Pretty insane considering I had not won a match on grass for two years before this tournament,” Gauff admitted during her post-match speech.
“I am happy with how I played today. Jess is an incredible opponent and person. Playing against her is never easy but I am just happy to get through this one today.
“Jess’s ball is so flat and low so I needed to address that I can be in there in the rallies and be in there and play the tennis I wanted to play,” she continued.
“I then started to land more first serves in the court and that also helped and trusting my shots. I think in the first set I made a bit too many errors, rushing the rallies out a bit too quickly.
Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon campaign so far
- R1: defeated Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-1
- R2: defeated Solana Sierra 6-3, 3-6, 7-6
- R3: defeated Claire Liu 6-3, 6-7, 6-2
- R4: defeated Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
- QF: defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
“Then the last two sets were really great tennis and I have been going three sets almost every match, so I feel like when you have that faith in yourself as a competitor when the match goes the distance when you lose one set you are not panicking.
Gauff made her debut at the event in 2019, when she was only 15 years old.
Despite her youth, the American stunned Venus Williams in the first round of the 2019 event.
She went on to reach the fourth round, losing to eventual champion Simona Halep.
After beating Pegula, Gauff was asked whether it had been ‘easy’ to wear the Wimbledon expectations placed on her shoulders since that glorious campaign in 2019.
The BBC interviewer said to Gauff: “People expect you to do really well.”
Gauff offered a friendly rebuttal to the comment, before commenting on her lack of nerves before the match.
“Maybe some people, I think a lot of people had me going out in the first or second round this tournament!” Gauff replied. “I am happy to get to the semis.
“I think after so many years of playing this tournament it’s finally the first time I can walk on Centre Court and didn’t feel nervous.
How long will it take for Coco Gauff to complete the career Grand Slam?
“I don’t know if I am becoming a vet, but it is a beautiful court. I was waiting over there and I was looking at all the decorations and the art pieces and I had to tell myself to look at the door so I could focus on the match!
“I am really enjoying being here and the process of being at Wimbledon, it’s so special. I know so people wait many hours to see us play, sometimes days.
“I always work hard but for me it gives it a little bit more motivation knowing so many people put their lives aside to watch me play.”
Coco Gauff achieves Wimbledon feat for first time in 30 years
Gauff’s victory on Tuesday was impressive in more than one respect.
As per statisticians OptaAce, Gauff is the first player to reach the Women’s Singles semi-finals at Wimbledon with four three-setters from the Second Round to the quarter-finals since 1996.
The last player to achieve the feat was Japan’s Kimiko Date.
Date’s four three-set victories came against Anne-Gaëlle Sidot, Kristie Boogert, Conchita Martínez, and Mary Pierce.
She was then beaten by eventual champion Steffi Graf in another three-set battle, losing 2-6, 6-2, 3-6.
Graf defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 6-3, 7-5 in the final.
