Gauff Stunned in First Round by Yastremska at Wimbledon 2025
Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and freshly crowned French Open champion, suffered a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon on July 1, 2025, losing 7‑6(3), 6‑1 to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. In a match lasting just 79 minutes, Yastremska—ranked 42nd—outplayed Gauff with blistering aggression and flawless execution.
A Match Defined by Errors and Pressure
Gauff struggled throughout, delivering nine double faults and 29 unforced errors, while only producing six winners. She managed just 45 percent of first serves and won only 14 of her 32 second‑serve points. Conversely, Yastremska maintained a powerful, composed baseline game, hammering winners and capitalizing whenever Gauff faltered.
Mental Fatigue Plays a Role
Gauff herself admitted post-match that she felt “mentally overwhelmed” following her intense French Open victory less than four weeks ago. This rapid shift from clay to grass left her underprepared, particularly impacting her serve and footwork on the slippery surface of Court One under the roof.
Yastremska’s Grass-Court Surge
Yastremska entered Wimbledon riding high—having reached the Nottingham final and Eastbourne quarter-finals—boosting her confidence on grass. She celebrated the victory fervently, saying, “I was really on fire” and admitting she felt an affinity with the grass surface.
Historic Day of Upsets at SW19
Gauff’s defeat contributed to a historic wave of early upsets. She became the third French Open women’s singles champion to lose in the first round at Wimbledon in the Open Era—joining Justine Henin (2005) and Francesca Schiavone (2010). Additionally, Wimbledon saw the highest number of top‑10 seeds eliminated in a single opening round, with Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Zheng Qinwen, Alexander Zverev, and others falling early.
What’s Next for Gauff
Wimbledon has now become the lone Grand Slam where Gauff hasn’t reached at least the semifinals, with this marking her second first-round exit here in three years. Despite this setback, she remains a rising star with two Grand Slam titles at just 21. This defeat likely offers time for reflection and adjustment ahead of future events, including the upcoming US Open.
Looking Ahead: Yastremska’s Path
For Yastremska, the win marks her first-ever victory over a top‑2 player and sets her up against qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the second round. Buoyed by her early success and powerful on-court form, she looks poised to make a significant run at the All England Club.
This shocking clash encapsulated the unpredictable drama of Wimbledon, where even seasoned champions like Gauff can be toppled early. Her performance may prompt reassessment of her grass-court strategies—but knowing Gauff’s resilience, she’s likely to use this as motivation for the seasons ahead.