Simon Cambers
Jul 1, 2025, 07:35 AM ET
WIMBLEDON, England -- American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula suffered her earliest defeat at a major since 2020 as she was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the world No. 116, in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Pegula, 31, came into Wimbledon on the back of her ninth career title in Bad Homburg, Germany, where she beat former world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the final -- on grass.
"She played absolutely incredible tennis. Pegula said of the 24-year-old Cocciaretto, who became the first Italian -- male or female -- to beat a top-3 seed at Wimbledon since the Open Era began in 1968. "Do I think I played the best match ever? No. But I definitely don't think I was playing bad. It wasn't like I was playing that bad.
"She just was hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball. It was just her day, I honestly think."
The match took less than an hour. Pegula is the highest seed to fall in either the women's or men's singles.
Cocciaretto became the first Italian to defeat a WTA top-3 ranked player at a major since the 2015 US Open semifinals, when Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta both beat did it, beating No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 2 Simona Halep, respectively.
"[I told myself to] be more aggressive and go for it," said Cocciaretto, whose ranking has dipped in recent months. "Don't think about losing or winning the point."
Pegula had beaten Cocciaretto in their only previous meeting, at Wimbledon in 2023, but hit just five winners and made 24 unforced errors as she slumped to defeat. She also struggled on second serve, winning just 42% of points.
"It wasn't (good); it was terrible," Pegula said of her serve. "... It's so frustrating when something you've been working on so much doesn't come and help you when you want it to, especially on grass."
It's the first time Pegula has lost in the first round of any Grand Slam event since the 2020 French Open.
"It's really a bummer to lose," Pegula said. "... I'm upset that I wasn't able to turn anything around. But at the same time, I do feel like she played kind of insane. Kudos to her."
Pegula wore tape on her left knee, which she injured last year and missed a match at the WTA Finals in November and missed the Brisbane International in January as a result. Pegula, however, said the knee wasn't an issue on Tuesday.
"The knee feels good," said Pegula, who had won 17 consecutive first-round matches in a major since 2021. "There wasn't really anything bothering me. I'm managing it pretty well. I think it's not really holding me back. ... So I feel good. That's why it's kind of disappointing that I'm not able to keep it going here."
Cocciaretto will play American Katie Volynets in the second round.
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
