Coco Gauff, fresh off her French Open win, suffered a surprising first-round loss at Wimbledon. The No. 2 seed was eliminated 7-6(3), 6-1 by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Gauff’s serve faltered with nine double faults and 29 unforced errors, handing Yastremska control early. “I didn’t serve that well,” Gauff admitted. This defeat marked only the third time in the Open era a woman lost in Wimbledon’s first round after winning Roland-Garros.
Gauff landed just 45% of her first serves and managed only six winners. The transition from clay to grass remains tough; Wimbledon is her weakest Slam historically. “I felt mentally overwhelmed,” she said, noting the quick turnaround after her French Open title. Meanwhile, Yastremska’s confidence soared. The Ukrainian player hit 16 winners and recently made a grass final in Nottingham, helping her prepare for Wimbledon’s quick courts.
Gauff was not alone in early losses. No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula bowed out the same day. In total, 23 seeded players across men’s and women’s singles exited early, tying the record for most seeds knocked out before the first round’s end since 2001. This high rate of upsets has sent shockwaves through the tournament.
In doubles, defending champions and fan favorites made strong starts. The men’s doubles saw Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury advance smoothly, while the women’s doubles featured the powerful pairing of Krejcikova and Siniakova winning in straight sets. Mixed doubles also kicked off with exciting matches, including the surprise early exit of last year’s finalists. The doubles competition adds depth and drama to Wimbledon’s hectic early rounds.