Coco Gauff has reached her first Wimbledon semi-final after fighting a comeback win over Jessica Pegula.

Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion, had never before made it past the fourth round at the All England Club and suffered a first-round exit last year.

However, she recovered from an error-plagued start against world number four Pegula, who was the highest-ranked player left in the singles draw, to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

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

The seventh seed was hampered by four double faults and 17 unforced errors in the first set.

But as she has done throughout the tournament, Gauff showed excellent fighting spirit to become the first woman to reach the singles semifinals with four three-set victories in 30 years.

“I think a lot of people had me eliminated in the first or second round of this tournament,” Gauff joked afterward.

“After seven years playing in this tournament, it is the first time I enter center court and I don’t feel nervous.

“So I don’t know, am I becoming a veteran yet?”

Gauff will face either Naomi Osaka or Karolina Muchova, who will meet later on Tuesday, for a place in Saturday’s final.

Pegula was ultimately punished for not taking advantage of her opportunities early in the second set, when she forced three break points in her opponent’s first two games.

The momentum shifted when Gauff took advantage of some poor play from Pegula, breaking at love and maintaining her composure to fight back from 0-30 down while serving the set to level the match.

The scrambled nature of the contest continued in the final set, but it was Gauff who was able to raise her level when necessary.

The 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open champion offered an immediate response to take a 4-3 lead after Pegula recovered and celebrated Pegula’s serve victory with a first match point.

The defeat means Pegula’s wait for a first Grand Slam singles title continues, and she may have to rue a missed opportunity.