Gauff completes Pegula comeback to reach first Wimbledon semifinal

Coco Gauff is making three-set wins at Wimbledon a habit this year -- and her latest, a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 comeback against good friend and fellow American Jessica Pegula, earned her a spot in the semifinals at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament for the first time. 

The 1 hour and 48-minute victory makes the two-time major champion the seventh active player to reach the semifinals or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments in her career, joining Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

Gauff, who has now played four consecutive three setters in five rounds, called the run at the All England Club "pretty insane." She entered Wimbledon on a four-match losing streak on the surface, and also came from a set down to beat Belinda Bencic in the Round of 16. 

"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," she said. "Jess is an incredible opponent and person, playing against her is never easy. I'm just happy to get through this one today." 

Gauff rebounds from slow start

Pegula entered the match a favorite on paper, and not just because of her 13-6 grass-court record over the last two years. She was 5-3 previously against Gauff, and won their only prior grass-court meeting in straight sets. 

She started with a break of Gauff's serve from 40-0 behind in the opening game, and broke again at love at 3-3 on her way to claiming the opening set. But from there, Pegula spent the rest of the match playing catch-up. She lost the last three games of the second set, and outside of holding serve to begin the decider, never pulled back ahead on the scoreboard.

Pegula left to wonder what could've been.

Pegula entered the final eight as the highest-ranked player remaining in the women's draw. But she leaves likely ruing missed opportunities. 

She had two break points in Gauff's first service game of the second set, another at 1-1, and one more still ahead 1-0 in the decider. She also had 0-30 at 3-3 in set two, and three more 15-30 opportunities across Gauff's remaining service games. 

The 32-year-old drops to 3-7 in her career in Grand Slam quarterfinals.

More to come...