It was supposed to be a celebration of dominance—an opening chapter in what many thought would be a deep run for two of America’s biggest tennis stars. But instead, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula turned Centre Court into the scene of one of the most shocking double collapses in Grand Slam history. And they didn’t just lose—they made history for all the wrong reasons.
In a jaw-dropping sequence of upsets that has sent ripples through the tennis world, both the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the women’s draw were eliminated in the very first round of Wimbledon 2025. Coco Gauff, fresh off her French Open triumph and widely considered the tournament favorite, fell in straight sets to unseeded Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska, 7-6(3), 6-1. Not long after, her compatriot Jessica Pegula was stunned by world No. 116 Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who bulldozed her way to a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
This wasn’t just a bad day at the office. It was a statistical and emotional earthquake. For the first time in the Open Era, two of the top three seeds in the women’s singles draw have been knocked out in the first round of a Grand Slam. Add to that the first-round departure of fifth seed Zheng Qinwen, and it becomes the worst first-round exit tally among top-five women in major history.
Gauff, visibly shaken in her post-match press conference, admitted she felt “mentally overwhelmed” from the moment she stepped onto the grass. Coming off the high of Roland Garros and barely giving herself time to recalibrate for Wimbledon, the transition from clay to grass proved too fast, too slippery. Her game unraveled—serving at just 45% and coughing up nine double faults as Yastremska punished her hesitations with ruthless aggression.
For Pegula, the nightmare was just as bleak. The usually consistent American was unable to find her rhythm, racking up unforced errors while Cocciaretto—playing with nothing to lose—rallied with precision and boldness. Pegula, known for her composure, looked lost on the court as the Italian walked off the biggest win of her career.
Tennis fans and analysts alike are still reeling. The early exits of Gauff and Pegula don’t just shatter American hopes—they unravel the entire women’s draw. Suddenly, the tournament is wide open, with lower-ranked players sensing blood in the water and a once-predictable bracket turning into chaos.
The meltdown has prompted serious questions. Did Gauff and Pegula underestimate their opponents? Were they overconfident or underprepared? Or is this a sign of a deeper problem—of pressure, burnout, and scheduling issues that plague top players in today’s condensed calendar?
Whatever the cause, one thing is certain: Wimbledon 2025 will be remembered not for who wins, but for the seismic collapse that shook the women’s game to its core. And Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, once poised to rule this summer, now find themselves etched into history for the most unwanted reason imaginable.