Wimbledon, England-The American seeded n ° 3 Jessica Pegula suffered its first defeat in a major since 2020 when it was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by the Italian Elisabetta Cocciatto, the world n ° 116, in the first round in Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Pegula, 31, entered Wimbledon at the back of her ninth career title in Bad Homburg, Germany, where she beat the former Iga Swiatek n ° 1 in the final – on the grass.
“She played an absolutely incredible tennis. Pegula said about the 24 -year -old cocciretto, who became the first Italian – man or woman – to beat a top -3 seed for Wimbledon since the start of the open era in 1968.” Do I think I played the best game of all time? No. But I certainly don’t think I was playing badly. It was not like I was playing so badly.
“She was just hitting her gunshots and was going there, serving big, serving a high percentage, ranging from great services, redirecting the ball. It was just her day, I think honestly.”
The match took less than an hour. Pegula is the highest seed to fall into singles of women or men.
Cocciatto became the first Italian to defeat a player classified Top-3 WTA in a major from the semi-finals US Open 2015, when Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta both beat, beating the N ° 1 Serena Williams and N ° 2 Simona Halep respectively.
“”[I told myself to] Be more aggressive and go ahead, “said Cocciatto, whose classification has dropped in recent months.” Do not think of losing or gaining the point. “”
Pegula had beaten Coccireretto in their sole previous meeting, in Wimbledon in 2023, but struck only five winners and made 24 unl forked mistakes when she collapsed to defeat. She also had a hard time in the second service, winning only 42% of the points.
“It was not (good); it was terrible,” said Pegula about his service. “… it’s so frustrating when something you worked on so much does not come to help you when you want, especially on the grass.”
This is the first time that Pegula has lost in the first round of any Grand Slam event since the France 2020 Open.
“It’s really a disappointment to lose,” said Pegula. “… I am upset that I could not reverse anything. But at the same time, I feel like I played a little.
Pegula wore adhesive tape on her left knee, which she injured last year and missed a match in the WTA final in November and missed Brisbane International in January accordingly. Pegula, however, said the knee was not a problem on Tuesday.
“The knee feels good,” said Pegula, who had won 17 consecutive games in the first round in major since 2021. “There was really nothing to disturb me. I manage it quite well. I think that does not really hold me back. … So I feel good. This is why it is a little disappointing that I cannot continue to go here.”
Cocciatto will play Katie Volynets American in the second round.
ESPN research has contributed to this report.
