Coco Gauff reaches maiden Wimbledon semis, beats Pegula in 3 sets
Synopsis
Coco Gauff hadn't won a match on grass in two years — then she reached her first Wimbledon semifinal in four straight three-setters. The 22-year-old American is now one win away from a potential all-surface Grand Slam collection, and her comeback at the All England Club is one of the tournament's most unexpected storylines.
Key Takeaways
Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 on 7 July 2026 to reach her maiden Wimbledon semifinal.
Gauff had not won a single grass-court match in two years before this tournament.
She has now won four consecutive three-set matches across five rounds at the All England Club .
The win makes her the seventh active player to reach the semis or better at all four Grand Slams, joining Venus Williams , Serena Williams , Karolina Pliskova , Aryna Sabalenka , and Iga Swiatek .
Gauff is a two-time major champion, holding the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open titles.
She faces her Wimbledon semifinal on Friday .
Coco Gauff produced a determined fightback at the All England Club on Tuesday, 7 July 2026, overcoming compatriot Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach her first-ever Wimbledon semifinal — and, remarkably, her maiden Grand Slam last four. The match lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes, with the No. 7 seed grinding through her fourth consecutive three-setter of the fortnight.
How the match unfolded
Pegula, making her Centre Court debut at 32, was disciplined and consistent in the opening set, exposing the grass-court vulnerabilities that have long shadowed Gauff's game. The first set slipped away 4-6, but the 22-year-old American steadied herself, taking the next two sets 6-3, 6-3 with growing authority. Gauff had also come from a set down to defeat Belinda Bencic in the round of 16, underlining a pattern of resilience across this campaign.
The significance of the run
The victory is all the more striking given Gauff's recent record on grass. She entered Wimbledon 2026 having not won a single match on the surface in two years, arriving on a four-match losing streak on grass. Her previous best at the All England Club was the fourth round, reached on her breakthrough debut seven years ago. This is her fourth consecutive three-set victory across five rounds.
Notably, the win makes Gauff the seventh active player to reach the semifinals or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments, joining an elite group that includes Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek.
What Gauff said
'Considering 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,' Gauff said after the match. 'Jess is an incredible opponent and person; playing against her is never easy. I'm just happy to get through this one today.'
Gauff described her run to the last four at the All England Club as 'pretty insane' — a characterisation few would dispute given where she stood at the start of the fortnight.
What's next
A two-time major champion — holding the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open titles — Gauff will now target a first Wimbledon crown when she steps out for the semifinal on Friday. Her unprecedented grass-court revival this fortnight suggests she is capable of going all the way, though the semifinal will present an entirely new test of her growing confidence on the surface.
Point of View
Winning four three-setters through sheer competitive grit rather than dominant serving or net play. The bigger question is whether this is a one-tournament breakthrough or the start of a sustained grass-court identity. If she wins Friday, the conversation shifts entirely: a player who could not win a grass match in two years would have claimed three different Grand Slam surfaces. That would reframe her career in ways even her 2023 and 2025 titles did not.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Coco Gauff reached the Wimbledon semifinals before?
No. The 7 July 2026 victory over Jessica Pegula is Gauff's first-ever Wimbledon semifinal appearance. Her previous best at the All England Club was the fourth round, reached on her debut seven years ago.
What was Coco Gauff's record on grass before Wimbledon 2026?
Gauff had not won a single match on grass in two years before this tournament and arrived at Wimbledon 2026 on a four-match losing streak on the surface.
Who are the other active players to reach the semis at all four Grand Slams?
Gauff is the seventh active player to achieve the feat, joining Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek.
What Grand Slam titles does Coco Gauff already hold?
Gauff is a two-time major champion, having won the 2023 US Open and the 2025 French Open.
When does Coco Gauff play her Wimbledon 2026 semifinal?
Gauff is scheduled to play her Wimbledon semifinal on Friday following her quarterfinal win on 7 July 2026.
