Jessica Pegula Suffers Shock First-Round Loss at Wimbledon

Third seed Jessica Pegula came into Wimbledon 2025 riding high after a title-winning run in Bad Homburg that included a win over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. But her campaign at SW19 came to an abrupt and surprising end on Tuesday, as the American was knocked out in the first round by Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 6-2 6-3.

In one of the biggest upsets of the opening round, Pegula never looked settled on Court 2. She struck just five winners to 24 unforced errors and was broken four times by Cocciaretto, who barely gave her any rhythm to work with. It marked Pegula’s first opening-round loss at a Grand Slam in five years, and halted a streak of 17 straight first-round wins at the majors dating back to the 2021 Australian Open.

After the match, Pegula didn’t mince words. “It’s definitely the worst result of the year,” she admitted. “But I know where I’m at and what I’ve been through, and I’m not panicking about it.”

Pegula’s Wimbledon Track Record

While grass has traditionally been Pegula’s least productive surface, she’s had moments of promise at the All-England Club. Her best result came in 2023, when she reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual finalist Marketa Vondrousova in a three-set battle.

That run made Pegula just the fifth American woman this century to reach the quarterfinals at all four Majors, joining the likes of Serena and Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens, and Madison Keys. Her 2022 and 2024 appearances also saw her reach the third and second rounds, respectively, before this year’s abrupt exit.

What’s Next?

Despite the early loss, Pegula’s form in Bad Homburg shows she’s more than capable of a deep run on hard courts–where she has historically done her best work. With the North American summer swing fast approaching, she’ll turn her attention to Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open, where she’ll look to reset and reassert herself as one of the WTA’s most consistent performers.

It’s a disappointing end to her grass-court season, but if there’s one thing Pegula has shown in recent years, it’s resilience. Expect her to be back in contention soon.