Gauff eases past Pegula to reach Eastbourne semi-finals

Coco Gauff won the battle of the Americans, as she got the better of Jessica Pegula to reach the semi-finals of the Eastbourne International.

Gauff, who breezed past Jodie Burrage to reach the last eight, played front-foot tennis and was rewarded with a 6-3 6-3 win in one hour and eight minutes.

There was not a lot between the two from the back of the court, but Gauff was able to fall back on her big serve at pressure moments.

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Gauff burst onto the scene at Wimbledon in 2019, reaching the fourth round, and the 19-year-old has always looked at ease on grass.

Two breaks of serve were enough for Gauff to take the opening set, but any thoughts of a stroll on the south coast were dashed when Pegula edged ahead in the second set.

Pegula worked three break points in the second game of the second set, and converted when a fierce forehand forced Gauff to send the ball long at full stretch.

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Gauff got the match back on serve in the second set when breaking back in the fifth game, and held her serve to level the set at three games apiece despite Pegula being handed a chance by a fortuitous net cord.

The No. 5 seed made it four games on the bounce when breaking Pegula for a second time in the set.

That appeared to take the wind from Pegula’s sails, as Gauff held and then sealed victory with another break – wrapping up the win with a crunching forehand.

Gauff will take on Madison Keys in the semis, following her 6-4 6-1 win over Petra Martic.

Later in the day, Caroline Garcia’s Wimbledon preparations ended on a low note, as the French player retired due to injury when a set down to Daria Kasatkina.

Kasatkina led 6-2 2-1 when the No. 2 seed Garcia felt it was not worth the risk of continuing, on account of her shoulder that was heavily taped.

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