WIMBLEDON, LONDON — Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon 2025 campaign lasted just 58 minutes as the world No.3 suffered a shocking defeat to Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the opening round.
The American was among the favorites to have a deep run at SW19 this year, but a 6-2, 6-3 loss to the world No.116 proved to be the biggest upset of the tournament so far, as her 24 unforced errors cost her.
In fact, it’s the quickest defeat of a top-5 seed at a grand slam since Jule Niemeier’s 58-minute 6-4, 6-0 defeat of Anett Kontaveit in the second round of Wimbledon 2022.
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Jessica Pegula suffers shocking Wimbledon upset
Cocciaretto hit 17 winners to Pegula’s five and did not have to face a single break point. Pegula was playing with her right knee heavily strapped, but the American was quick to not make excuses.
“The knee feels good. There wasn’t really anything bothering me,” the 31-year-old said. “The knee, I’m managing it pretty well. I think it’s not really holding me back.
“I had a little bit of a neck injury as well that’s been on and off this year. But at the same time, being able to play the last few weeks and get my body acclimated to the grass, it’s actually felt really good.
“So I feel good. That’s why it’s kind of disappointing that I’m not able to keep it going here.”
Elisabetta Cocciaretto, take a bow 👏
The Italian beats No.3 seed Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-3 to storm into the second round of #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/oGWnAVK4BJ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2025
Pegula came into Wimbledon off the back of beating Iga Swiatek to win the title at Bad Homburg in Germany last week but admitted her performance was far from what she’s usually capable of.
She has only once gone beyond the quarterfinal of a grand slam in her career, but this marks her worst performance at a major since the 2020 French Open.
“I haven’t lost first round of a slam in a very long time, so that sucks,” she said. “I used to kind of have trouble getting past the first round for a while. I remember I had a really tough match, and I just told myself, I’m done losing first round, I’m not losing first round.
“It’s disappointing. I don’t know how else to put it. I’m upset that I wasn’t able to turn anything around.”
“This is definitely probably the worst result I’ve had all year,” she added.
American tennis fans will be now be hoping Coco Gauff avoids a similar slip up in the opening round when the two-time grand slam champion takes on Dayana Yastremska on Centre Court later today.
