WIMBLEDON, England — American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula suffered her earliest defeat at a significant since 2020 as she was crushed 6-2, 6-3 by Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the world No. 116, within the first spherical at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Pegula, 31, got here into Wimbledon on the again of her ninth profession title in Unhealthy Homburg, Germany, the place she beat former world No.1 Iga Swiatek within the closing — on grass.
“She performed completely unimaginable tennis. Pegula mentioned of the 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who grew to become the primary Italian — male or feminine — to beat a top-3 seed at Wimbledon for the reason that Open Period started in 1968. “Do I feel I performed the most effective match ever? No. However I undoubtedly do not assume I used to be taking part in dangerous. It wasn’t like I used to be taking part in that dangerous.
“She simply was hitting her pictures and going for it, serving huge, serving excessive proportion, going huge second serves, redirecting the ball. It was simply her day, I truthfully assume.”
The match took lower than an hour. Pegula is the best seed to fall in both the ladies’s or males’s singles.
Cocciaretto grew to become the primary Italian to defeat a WTA top-3 ranked participant at a significant for the reason that 2015 US Open semifinals, when Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta each beat did it, beating No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 2 Simona Halep, respectively.
“[I told myself to] be extra aggressive and go for it,” mentioned Cocciaretto, whose rating has dipped in latest months. “Do not take into consideration shedding or profitable the purpose.”
Pegula had crushed Cocciaretto of their solely earlier assembly, at Wimbledon in 2023, however hit simply 5 winners and made 24 unforced errors as she slumped to defeat. She additionally struggled on second serve, profitable simply 42% of factors.
“It wasn’t (good); it was horrible,” Pegula mentioned of her serve. “… It is so irritating when one thing you’ve got been engaged on a lot does not come and enable you while you need it to, particularly on grass.”
It is the primary time Pegula has misplaced within the first spherical of any Grand Slam occasion for the reason that 2020 French Open.
“It is actually a bummer to lose,” Pegula mentioned. “… I am upset that I wasn’t capable of flip something round. However on the identical time, I do really feel like she performed type of insane. Kudos to her.”
Pegula wore tape on her left knee, which she injured final 12 months and missed a match on the WTA Finals in November and missed the Brisbane Worldwide in January because of this. Pegula, nevertheless, mentioned the knee wasn’t a difficulty on Tuesday.
“The knee feels good,” mentioned Pegula, who had received 17 consecutive first-round matches in a significant since 2021. “There wasn’t actually something bothering me. I am managing it fairly properly. I feel it is not likely holding me again. … So I really feel good. That is why it is type of disappointing that I am not capable of preserve it going right here.”
Cocciaretto will play American Katie Volynets within the second spherical.
ESPN Analysis contributed to this report.