Key events

6m agoCoco Gauff (7) defeats Jessica Pegula (4) 4-6 6-3 6-3
3h agoPreamble

Returning to the men, Sinner now leads Struff 7-5 7-6 3-3, yet honestly: as much as everyone wants a real battle, it seems we are simply waiting for the champion to take control. Struff remains competitive, going for his shots, yet can he produce enough on return to create a break?

Coco Gauff (7) defeats Jessica Pegula (4) 4-6 6-3 6-3

A major victory for Gauff, who willed herself into strong form - her forehand and serve held up well today - and she will face Osaka or Muchova next. Pegula, for her part, will regret not converting her early 1-0 lead, but she likely realizes she lacks the edge to claim a grand slam, and that situation may persist.

At 30-15, Pegula nets a forehand, her expression showing fading confidence. A forehand down the line then sails long, so Gauff earns match point at 5-3 30-40...

Another outstanding rally on Centre, with both players covering the court in all directions. Yet Gauff stays in command, even after a lob, and she completes the hold when Pegula rushes forward after a drop shot only to send her forehand wide. At 5-3 in the third, Gauff stands one game from victory, while on No 1, Struff fights to hold for 0-2 2-2.

A Gauff forehand proves too powerful, then she excels at the net as a lob drops long; 0-30, the level rising. And to emphasize, given a backhand chance, Gauff moves in and strikes firmly to the line, Pegula unable to reply, then she nets a forehand and that is the break. The score reaches 4-3 in the third.

A fine game on Centre, Gauff claiming the rally of the match via a clever drop from a tough position. But Pegula, showing greater energy, reaches advantage, Gauff nets, and we return to serve in the third at 3-3. The contest is heating up.

A solid hold for Struff, so Sinner leads 7-6 7-5 1-1, though he lacks the power to threaten much after serving. Picture a parent keeping a child at distance while the child swings without connecting, and that captures the match dynamic.

Both Sinner and Struff step away between sets, then Sinner holds to love and sets the pace; a break next game would not surprise. Back on Centre, Pegula recovers well from 0-30 to hold, though she stays a break down at 3-2 in the third.

It is remarkable that, at 22, Gauff is contesting her seventh Wimbledon - just as this marks her first quarterfinal. Yet she looks set for her first semifinal, an inside-out backhand winner giving 15-all, followed by a smart net play for 15-40. Pegula faces pressure, her approach falls short and her volley drops into the net, so Gauff takes the break for 2-1 in the third and then holds to 15 for 3-1. Her serve has improved and she poses a real threat.

Another first serve, a return that lands just beyond the baseline, and this must feel crushing for Struff, who performs well but sees Sinner do just enough to claim the sets. A 7-4 tiebreak gives Sinner a 7-5 7-6 lead, and the outcome now appears inevitable.

Struff nets a backhand to hand Sinner 3-1 and the mini-break; it is 4-2 at the changeover, the champion landing every first serve. Struff tries to attack, but the accuracy is exceptional and he lacks the means to respond, soon trailing 5-2. He closes to 4-5, placing Sinner under pressure that is eased by a service winner for 6-4 and set point.

Sinner holds to 30 and the match hinges here: victory in the tiebreak would nearly seal it; success for Struff would leave room for doubt.

Gauff reaches 40-30 then places a serve on the T line, and that levels the match at one set each. She can perform at a higher level, reflecting both her current form and her resilience. Pegula lacks the weapons to overcome her today, yet I would hesitate to favor Gauff against Osaka or Muchova in the semifinal.

Pegula's first serve deserts her and Gauff capitalizes, unable to win points on return but building rallies to reach 0-40. A double fault follows, and at 4-6 5-3, she will serve for the second set, while Struff holds to trail Sinner 5-7 6-5.

Sinner serves through difficulty, three strong first serves helping him to 7-5 5-5. He may not be at his best to face Djokovic in a potential semifinal, but each match differs and he maintains the lead here.

Pegula appears relaxed and plays freely; Gauff depends on more winners than errors. She falls to 0-30 just as Struff produces a fine forehand-volley for 30-all, then Sinner sends a backhand wide and faces break point. He saves it with a big serve, while Gauff completes a difficult hold to trail 4-6 4-3.

A quick hold each on No 1, so Sinner leads 7-5 4-4, and can Struff manage the late pressure? His first-serve percentage declines, yet he needs two more holds to force a tiebreak. He might threaten in older conditions that favored serve-volleyers, but reaching the net is harder now, and after turning 0-30 into 30-all, concern grows. Struff hits long but saves break point with a service winner and holds to trail 5-7 5-4. Sinner usually converts such chances but has not played sharply. On Centre, Pegula leads Gauff 6-4 2-3.

Still on serve at 7-5 2-3 for Sinner but Struff makes 15-30 and might he break again? At 40-30 he fires a superb forehand winner cross-court, yet Sinner answers with an ace, then another at deuce. The champion closes out to lead 7-5 3-3, while Gauff serves at 4-6 1-1 deuce and delivers an ace at 126mph, her fastest of the event. She gains advantage and converts with a powerful overhead. Pegula leads 6-4 1-2.

Yes, it was around 1988 when the term eggy described irritation; so be it. Meanwhile, Gauff faces trouble at 15-40, and losing serve here would be serious. She was lucky to beat Solana Sierra in round two and relied on character rather than play to advance against Liu and Bencic. She reaches deuce, retrieves a lob and hits a winner for advantage, then holds. Pegula leads 6-4 0-1.

A mishit forehand and a double fault give Struff an unexpected 0-30, then at 30-all, Sinner fails to finish a ball he should, erring in the rally. On break point, he overhits a forehand, and Struff is back in set two at 2-2. Sinner is frustrated with himself.

At 15-all, Pegula offers a weak second serve so Gauff attacks, but sending the ball from over her shoulder, she can only send it long, then a backhand down the line puts her down to break points. Only one is needed, a poor forehand landing in the net, and Pegula leads 6-4.

Struff's first-serve percentage drops - I sense Sinner has control now. Two errors give 15-30, then a backhand return wins two break points, and a forehand return secures the break. Sinner leads 7-5 2-1 and the match feels decided; Gauff holds for 4-5, forcing Pegula to serve for the first set.

All that work and Gauff returns her break in ordinary fashion - she plays such games too often, one reason I was surprised she won majors early. I expected eventual success but not so soon, nor in Paris; Pegula consolidates and leads 5-3 in the first.

Down 15-30, Struff finds a service winner, but then nets a volley, letting it drop too low. A service winner follows, then on the second break point, a ball falls from Struff's pocket, so they replay - if it happens again, he loses the point - but he is ready, another service winner makes deuce, and he holds. Sinner leads 7-5 0-1.

Gauff hits the tape and the ball climbs over then drops; 0-15. When Pegula goes wide on the backhand, Gauff has a chance, striking a return on the line that forces awkward movement. Pegula goes wide again, and the break-back arrives to love, returning to serve at 3-3 in the first.

Up 30-0, Sinner swats wide; a huge ace out wide follows, then Struff sweeps a backhand wide, concluding a 7-5 first set, close until the end. There was one lapse, the champion seized it, a lesson in top sport; can Struff adapt?

Pegula, meanwhile, plays well, up 3-2 with a break, but Gauff showed signs of settling in her last hold.

OK, Sinner holds for 5-5, then strikes a forehand and a return; Struff cannot reach the first, then nets the second, and at 0-30, he is in difficulty - more so when his first serve misses. Sinner's return is accurate, the reply hits the net, giving three break points. The first is saved by ace, the second too, but on another second serve, an inside-out forehand winner takes the break, the champion raising his level when required, and he will serve for the set at 6-5.

Oh, serving at 4-4 15-all, Struff mishits a simple smash into the net, which adds pressure. From there, he holds for 5-5, while Pegula consolidates to lead Gauff 2-0.

We start on Centre, Gauff netting a forehand for deuce, and Pegula will target that side - a netted backhand gives her advantage. A double fault follows; Pegula leads 1-0, with a break.

Down 40-0, Struff creates space for a winner from corner to corner, then Sinner frames a forehand and misses a first serve; pressure. When he goes long again off the forehand, we reach deuce, the German floating a weak backhand slice over the baseline, then a netted forehand gives the hold for 4-4 - but Sinner is not yet comfortable.

Another love hold for Struff and suddenly, Sinner faces scoreboard pressure, down 3-4 in the first. He has not yet made an impression on return or hit many winners, both unexpected.

On Centre, Gauff and Pegula appear; Pegula wins the toss and chooses to receive after brief thought.

Struff makes 0-15 and is well placed until he swipes a forehand wide, then loses patience in a 19-stroke rally, hitting wide again. A service winner follows for 40-15, then on a second serve, Struff attacks and volleys well, raising both hands. More such situations would help him, and when Sinner spins a forehand long, we reach deuce, but not for long. The champion serves out, and we are level at 3-3 in the set.

Now a love hold for Struff, who has begun strongly and leads 3-2. He looks assured, but has not faced pressure and I wonder if he can produce stronger returns. Even standing back for a better view of Sinner's serve, he must try to challenge rather than aim for a tiebreak.

Nana Sinner seems to have knitted Jannik's top;