'How?!' - Gauff battles into first Wimbledon semi-final

Gauff completes comeback over Pegula to reach first Wimbledon semi-final

>Coco Gauff surprised even herself by overcoming her recent grass-court struggles to reach a first Wimbledon semi-final with a battling victory over Jessica Pegula.

>Two-time Grand Slam singles champion Gauff had never previously gone beyond the fourth round at the All England Club and suffered a first-round exit last year.

>The American arrived at this year's championships having not won a singles match on a grass court since the third round of Wimbledon in 2024.

>However, she recovered from an error-strewn start against world number four Pegula to win 4-6 6-3 6-3.

>The 22-year-old is the youngest player to reach the semi-finals at all four Grand Slams since Maria Sharapova, who achieved that feat at the 2007 French Open.

>Gauff's past four matches have all gone to three sets but the seventh seed's fighting spirit and supreme athleticism has seen her through to the last four.

>"It feels really special considering the results I've had of late, especially on this surface," Gauff said.

>"I think I'm able to relax a bit because I just feel, regardless of how the rest of this tournament goes, I've found a breakthrough on grass.

>"I'm just proud of myself. Obviously I'm not satisfied - I want to go all the way."

>Gauff will face Karolina Muchova for a place in the final after the Czech 10th seed ended Naomi Osaka's impressive run in a high-quality contest.

>Muchova reached a first Wimbledon semi-final - having lost at this stage in 2019 and 2021 - with a 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 win over Japan's Osaka on Court One.

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>Gauff appeared visibly frustrated as she was hindered by four double faults and 17 unforced errors in the opening set.

>But as she has done all tournament, the seventh seed showed excellent fighting spirit to become the first woman to reach the singles semi-finals with four three-set wins for 30 years.

>When her victory was confirmed, Gauff turned to her team and asked "how?".

>"I'm confident in myself and the player that I am, but I know tennis. If I wasn't myself, I would [pick] her to win that game with the style she has on this surface," said Gauff, explaining that reaction.

>"But because I am me, I pick myself. I think it was just more so that reaction came from like a third-person point of view, rather than necessarily me in the moment.

>After an excellent opening set, Pegula was ultimately punished for failing to take her opportunities early in the second, having forced three break points in her opponent's first two games.

>The momentum flipped when Gauff capitalised on a poor game from Pegula, breaking to love and maintaining her composure to battle back from 0-30 down as she served out the set to level the match.

>The topsy-turvy nature of the contest continued in the final set, but it was Gauff who was able to raise her level when it mattered.

>The 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion offered an immediate response to take a 4-3 lead after Pegula had broken back, and celebrated victory on Pegula's serve with a first match point.

>The loss means Pegula's wait for a first Grand Slam singles title goes on - and she may be left to rue a missed opportunity.

>Osaka has been one of the stories of this year's championships, proving a showstopper both on and off the court.

>The 28-year-old four-time major winner stunned world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a brilliant performance to reach the last eight and has dazzled crowds with her various walk-on outfits - including paying tribute to her nation's culture in a kimono.

>But that impressive run came to an end against Muchova, who raised her level to dominate the first-set tie-break before ending Osaka's resistance deep in the second set.

>Muchova was solid from the back of the court and made significantly fewer unforced errors (21) than her opponent (32) to edge a competitive match, defined by beautiful ball-striking as both players landed 24 winners.