Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon campaign came to a screeching halt in the opening round on Tuesday, leaving fans reeling just days after she delivered a clinical performance to defeat former World No. 1 Iga Świątek in a grass-court final.
Pegula’s straight-set loss to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto ignited a wave of disbelief and commentary across social media.
Jessica Pegula Entered Wimbledon Riding High After Beating Iga Świątek
Pegula, seeded third at this year’s Wimbledon, had entered the tournament on a high after claiming her third title of the season at the Bad Homburg Open. There, she dismantled Świątek 6-4, 7-5 in the final. The American had also made the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2023 and was widely tipped to go deep in this year’s draw.
That momentum, however, came to an abrupt end in the first round against World No. 116 Cocciaretto, who was seeking revenge for a third-round loss to Pegula at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
Visibly hampered by a strapped knee, Pegula never found her footing during the 58-minute match. Cocciaretto came out swinging with aggressive shot-making and sharp angles, breaking Pegula’s serve repeatedly en route to a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
The match marked Pegula’s earliest exit at a Grand Slam since the 2020 French Open and allowed Cocciaretto to even their head-to-head record at 1-1.
The upset sent shockwaves through the tennis community, prompting a flood of reactions online. One fan wrote on X, “Beats Iga in the finals and then loses to Cocciaretto in the 1st round. What in tarnation.”
Beats iga in the finals and then loses to Cocciaretto in the 1st round. What in tarnation
— Jabrodie (@LeandrewEscobar) July 1, 2025
“This is just crazy,” a user wrote.
this is just crazy https://t.co/afmbr6opiS
— justyna (@tthethingsilike) July 1, 2025
Another user commented, “What in the actual HELL????? PEGULA OUT????? Abolish participating in 500 before grand slam omggggg,” alluding to the tight scheduling between Bad Homburg and Wimbledon.
What in the actual HELL????? PEGULA OUT????? Abolish participating in 500 before grand slam omggggg https://t.co/TypRd7GFfb
— Liviefromparis 🇫🇷🤸🏼♀️🎾 (@Livieparis2024) July 1, 2025
Pegula’s Wimbledon Crash Sparks Online Frenzy
Some pointed to Pegula’s physical condition, while others gave credit where it was due. “Cocciaretto’s game plan seemed to unsettle Pegula from the start. Impressive focus under pressure,” a user observed. Another added, “Stunning upset! Cocciaretto dazzles, dethrones Pegula with fearless flair at Wimbledon.”
“I watched this match and damn, pegula had no answer to cocciaretto’s aggressive game play today,” a user commented.
Cocciaretto will meet either Tatiana Maria or Katie Volynets in her second-round match. Meanwhile, Świątek is scheduled to begin her campaign against Polina Kudermetova.
