The comeback queen has struck again at Wimbledon, with Coco Gauff having come from a set down to beat Jessica Pegula earlier today.
It was a completely unexpected result, with many actually starting to tip the 32-year-old as one of the outstanding favourites to go all the way and win the title.
However, despite being 11 years Coco Gauff’s senior, it was the experience of the younger of the two which proved pivotal.
Speaking live on the BBC’s coverage after the result, Tracy Austin spoke glowingly about Gauff and her ability to put her setbacks behind her.
After all, this marked the second match in a row where she has come from a set down to win, and a fourth win which went the distance.
Tracy Austin praises Coco Gauff for comeback win over Jessica Pegula
Speaking on court, Gauff claimed something happened to her for the first time in her career during her match with Pegula.
Then, Austin began by praising Gauff’s mindset: “We know, and we have seen so many times in the past, this is what she is so good at. She is able to adjust and compartmentalise, because when a lot of players play a set like that where she was all over the place, it would really bleed into their confidence. Their mind would start spinning.
“Coco is able to immediately reset, and she started dropping her racket head a bit more on her forehand and with each set her serve got more powerful.
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“I have heard Coco has said that being tired in a tennis match has never happened to her, so she just has to deal with what’s happening on the tennis court.
“We know her defence is incredible so even when she gets into an awkward position she can so quickly get back to the lob and back on balance and is able to find a passing shot winner.”
The American pundit then discussed the other areas of the Gauff game which shone.
She added: “She was very effective with the drop shots. The serve was much better as well, a lot more power and accuracy. Her forehand averaged 64mph in the first set, but she got that up to 72 in the second and kept that at 72 for the third set, and every single set she had a bit more top spin and rotation and that gives you safety.
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“All of these things she is having to do on the fly, on Centre Court, and now she is in the semi-finals for the first time. Amazing!”
Andy Roddick’s prediction for Gauff’s match vs Pegula has been proven wrong following this result, and belief is growing that she might now be establishing herself as a new favourite for the title.
Coco Gauff finally breaks through with her historic 2026 Wimbledon run
Before this tournament, Gauff had not won a match on the grass in two years.
Now, she is a Wimbledon semi-finalist.
Her relationship with this event has been an unpredictable one, having enjoyed her breakthrough onto the WTA Tour at the All England Club as a 15-year-old, but mostly struggled since.
| Year | Event | Round reached | Defeated by |
| 2026 | Wimbledon | Semi-finals* | N/A |
| 2026 | Berlin Open | First Round | Paula Badosa |
| 2025 | Wimbledon | First Round | Dayana Yastremska |
| 2025 | Berlin Open | First Round | Wang Xinyu |
| 2024 | Wimbledon | Round of 16 | Emma Navarro |
Two first-round exits and not a single run to the quarter-final or beyond has actually made this, statistically, her worst-performing Slam.
And yet, against all the odds, Gauff is now into the semi-final, and is the highest-ranked player left in the draw as a new potential favourite for the title.
