Caroline Garcia holds nerve, handles Coco Gauff to reach US Open semifinals

WATCH: Gauff had won her previous two matches against Garcia, including at last fall's BNP Paribas Open.

NEW YORK—Up against one of the game’s most mentally tough competitors, Caroline Garcia held her nerve and took flight to dispatch Coco Gauff, 6-3, 6-4 and reach her first Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open.

The first Frenchwoman to make it this far at a major since compatriot Marion Bartoli won the 2013 Wimbledon title, Garcia, seeded No. 17, withstood a brave last stand from the American teenager to advance in 96 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium and book a final-four clash with No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur.

"The path is very clear right now, which direction I have to go, under stress, under pressure," said Garcia after the match. "I'm just trying to follow this path. That's how we prepare with the team. We try to do the best we can in this direction.

"It was not that clear in the past. It was not that clear. I mean, I always been very aggressive. I always try to put the pressure on the other one to be on the court. But I was younger. Sometimes I will say that I did not have stress as I have today in which direction I have to go, in which way my game is the best, and to accept that it's actually the only way for me. So if I want to do good, I have to go that way.

Garcia arrived to court Tuesday night brimming with confidence: in the midst of a summer renaissance, the former world No. 4 and she of the #FlyWithCaro hashtag-mantra has won her last 13 matches dating back to Western & Southern Open qualifying, where she would win her first WTA 1000 title in almost five years. Armed with massive weapons—among them a booming serve and forehand—Garcia has often struggled to play her best tennis when it mattered most.

I’ve been feeling relaxed the last couple weeks and not focusing too much on what other people are thinking about my game. The plan is to try and do the same, be relaxed and only play tennis. Caroline Garcia

Speaking before the tournament, the 28-year-old tried to view it as just another challenge.

"I’ve been feeling relaxed the last couple weeks and not focusing too much on what other people are thinking about my game," she said of the growing hype around her. The plan is to try and do the same, be relaxed and only play tennis."

The plan worked well through the first week: she didn't drop a set and faced down rivals like 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu and Alison Riske-Amritraj, whom she previously trailed 0-3 in their head-to-head.

Looking to score another first win against a another hitherto unbeaten rival—having lost both of her previous matches to Gauff in the last 12 months—Garcia was quicker out of the gate to start Day 9’s night session, weathering Gauff’s superb athleticism and anticipation to race through the first four games—shocking Gauff with her offensive firepower.

"I was hitting a couple 120s on the serve, the return was coming back faster," Gauff said. "Usually you expect that to happen once or twice, but it was happening a lot with her today."

As Gauff threatened to narrow the gap Garcia would then navigate a tense seventh game, striking a pair of forehand winners to maintain her break advantage. Serving for it two games later, she forced a backhand error from the American to move through the opening set in 45 minutes.

To have nerve, it's normal. That's mean you care about it. It's a lot of passion to play a sport, to play tennis. I mean, you play tennis because of the passion, because of the emotions it brings you. So it also drives you to keep practicing, to go forward. Obviously sometime it's a little bit worse, but that's what drives me. That's how I want to keep enjoying things. Caroline Garcia

Garcia took another quick lead to start the second, moving ahead, 2-0 as the crowd tried in vain to get Gauff going. In danger of falling behind another break, the No. 12 seed briefly lit up, winning five straight points and nailing an overhead to put Garcia under pressure.

Garcia nonetheless held on and got to match point when Gauff's weaker forehand wing betrayed her into the net; a final backhand error decided the match.

When Amélie Mauresmo held aloft the Wimbledon trophy in 2006, she declared, "I don't want to hear anyone talking about my nerves anymore." With her own massive mental challenge accomplished, Garcia was more philosophical when it came to pressure.

"To have nerve, it's normal. That's mean you care about it. It's a lot of passion to play a sport, to play tennis. I mean, you play tennis because of the passion, because of the emotions it brings you. So it also drives you to keep practicing, to go forward. Obviously sometime it's a little bit worse, but that's what drives me. That's how I want to keep enjoying things."

Garcia will now aim to reverse yet another unfriendly head-to-head as she plots to make her first major final against Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur. The talented Tunisian, who edged past Serena Williams’ conqueror Ajla Tomljanovic in a second-straight tiebreaker, has won both of their previous encounters—though none have occurred since the 2020 Australian Open, where Jabeur won in three sets.