Coco Gauff beats Claire Liu in three sets to reach Wimbledon round 4
Coco Gauff rallied from a second-set tiebreak loss to beat fellow American Claire Liu 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 on Friday and advance to the Wimbledon 2026 fourth round. Gauff reached round four for a fourth time in her career, setting up a Sunday clash with No. 11 seed Belinda Bencic as she chases her first grass-court quarterfinal.
Key Takeaways
- Coco Gauff defeated Claire Liu 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon 2026 fourth round on Friday.
- A double fault in the second-set tiebreak let Liu level the match before Gauff won the decider 6-2.
- Gauff has now reached Wimbledon round four four times but has never advanced past it.
- Liu's third-round run marked her deepest ever Grand Slam showing after 19 prior main-draw appearances.
- Gauff next faces Belinda Bencic on Sunday; Gauff leads their career head-to-head 5-2.
How did Coco Gauff beat Claire Liu at Wimbledon 2026?
Gauff hasn't had the easiest time at Wimbledon during her career, and Friday's third-round match against Claire Liu looked like it could end in another early exit. Instead, the two-time major champion found a way to win after being pushed to a third set.
Things started well for Gauff, who cruised through the first set, winning it 6-3. Liu offered resistance in the second set, eventually forcing a tiebreak. The tiebreak was close, but a double fault by Gauff led to Liu taking the tiebreak and the set, as Wimbledon reported that Gauff was pushed to the limit.
Gauff settled in after her tiebreak struggles, taking the first two games of the third set for an early lead. Liu battled back in the third game, and the pair traded the next two games. Gauff then picked up wins in the next two games, building a 5-2 lead before closing out the match. ESPN's match recap highlighted how Gauff battled into round four despite the second-set scare.
Why does this Gauff win matter at the All England Club?
Of all the Grand Slams, Wimbledon has proved the most difficult for Gauff. The 24-year-old has now reached the fourth round at the event four times, but in her three previous appearances at this stage, she failed to advance past it.
After winning the US Open in 2023 and the French Open in 2025, Gauff only needs Wimbledon and the Australian Open to complete a career Grand Slam. Until this year, she has come closer at the Australian Open, reaching the semifinals back in 2024. She'll look to match or best that performance if she can keep winning at the All England Club.
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What milestone did Claire Liu reach before falling?
For Liu, Friday's third-round appearance at Wimbledon marked the furthest she's ever progressed at a Grand Slam. The 26-year-old had made 19 Grand Slam appearances prior to Wimbledon this year but never advanced past the second round at any of them.
She fought valiantly to extend her run, pushing Gauff to a third set before ultimately falling. Liu's tiebreak victory in the second set showed she could compete with one of the tour's top players, even if she could not sustain that level through the decider.
Who does Gauff face next at Wimbledon 2026?
With the win, Gauff will take on Belinda Bencic in the fourth round on Sunday. By seeding, the match should be close, as No. 7 Gauff is just a slight favorite over the No. 11 Bencic.
But it might not be as close as it looks on paper. The pair have met seven times in their careers, with Gauff holding a 5-2 record over Bencic, according to Yahoo Sports.