Dates: 26 June – 1 July Venue: Devonshire Park, Eastbourne |
Coverage: Live daily coverage on BBC TV, BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website and app |
Coco Gauff beat world number four Jessica Pegula to reach the semi-finals of the Eastbourne International.
Seventh-ranked Gauff secured a 6-3 6-3 win over doubles partner and American compatriot Pegula.
It is the 19-year-old’s first win over a top-five player since February 2022 and first over a top-10 player since August of last year.
Gauff will face Madison Keys in Friday’s semi-finals after the American beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 6-4 6-1.
Former world number seven Keys looked impressive and is yet to drop a set in the competition she won in 2014.
“I’m really happy with how I played. I obviously know Jess very well, she’s one of the best players on the tour for a reason,” Gauff told BBC Two after her win.
“I’m really happy with how I played today. I know when Jess is playing well, it’s very hard to win games.”
The victory over good friend Pegula was Gauff’s best of the season in terms of ranking.
Gauff flew out of the blocks and broke Pegula in her first service game, ultimately going on claim the set.
Pegula’s body language lifted early in the second set after taking a 3-0 lead with Gauff hitting too many balls long.
The older American showed her class with a luscious lob over her teenage doubles partner to surge into a second-set lead.
A resurgent Gauff battled back in the second set to win six consecutive games to advance to the semi-finals for the first time.
Pegula will remain in Eastbourne as she prepares for her doubles semi-final with Gauff on Friday afternoon.