Jessica Pegula Shocked by World No. 116 in Wimbledon 2025 First-Round Upset

Jessica Pegula's Wimbledon 2025 Journey Ends Before It Starts

Wimbledon 2025 kicked off with a bolt from the blue as Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 and this year’s third seed, crashed out in the first round. The American star, who just stood tall on the podium in Bad Homburg a week earlier after toppling Iga Świątek, faced a nightmare match against Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, world No. 116. With the eyes of Centre Court watching, no one guessed the contest would end in just under an hour.

Pegula’s form coming into Wimbledon suggested she was a contender. She was confident, fresh off a recent victory, and had quietly been piling up titles. But instead of a strong opening run, the match unraveled from her very first serve. Cocciaretto took control early, breaking Pegula’s serve in the opening game and keeping the pressure on. The stats told a rough story: Pegula made 24 unforced errors to just five winners, which quickly zapped the belief from her game. On second serves, she converted only 42 percent of points—far from the numbers you’d expect from someone seeded third in a Grand Slam.

Pegula came out with obvious strapping on her left knee, possibly still carrying the after-effects of her week in Germany. But whether it was nerves, physical discomfort, or just one of those days, her usual calm play was missing. Her footwork looked off; her forehand sprayed balls into the tramlines; serves lacked bite. Cocciaretto—who had lost to Pegula at Wimbledon just last year—seized the moment. She played with real intent, finding sharp angles and never letting up, finishing rallies at the net and stepping into her groundstrokes. The Italian closed each set with authority: 6-2, 6-3.

Cocciaretto’s Moment and Pegula’s Setback

To put this in context, it’s the first time Pegula has fallen at the opening hurdle of a Grand Slam since Roland Garros 2020. For someone who’s built a career on consistency and grit—making the quarters or better in several recent majors—this loss stings. There’s always a risk, even for the top seeds, that grass (the most unpredictable surface) can turn reputations on their head. But this was Pegula’s earliest exit in years, and against an opponent ranked more than 100 spots below her.

It’s a huge moment for Cocciaretto. Last year, she was brushed aside by Pegula in their Wimbledon meeting. This time, she flipped the script. Her reward? A second-round clash with either Germany’s Tatiana Maria, a former semifinalist, or American challenger Katie Volynets. If she channels the same aggressive energy and precision, Cocciaretto could easily become one of the tournament’s underdog stories.

Pegula’s early loss is now the biggest upset for any top seed in both singles draws so far, highlighting just how volatile the game can be on grass. For fans hoping for an American charge through the fortnight, this elimination will be a shock. For Cocciaretto, Wimbledon has never looked brighter.