Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto pulled off one of the most surprising upsets of this year’s Wimbledon tournament, defeating world No. 3 Jessica Pegula 6–2, 6–3 in the opening round on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Italian, ranked No. 116 in the world, dominated the match from the start and needed less than an hour to eliminate one of the tournament’s top contenders.
Pegula, who had recently won a title in Bad Homburg and came into Wimbledon with strong momentum, was unable to find her rhythm. She struggled on serve, produced just five winners, and was undone by 24 unforced errors. Cocciaretto, by contrast, played with confidence and precision, converting four break points and never letting Pegula settle into the match.
The loss marks Pegula’s first first-round exit at a Grand Slam in nearly four years and ends a 17-match streak of opening-round wins at major tournaments. It’s also one of the fastest defeats for a top-five seed at Wimbledon in recent history. Despite the disappointing result, Pegula acknowledged Cocciaretto’s strong performance, saying her opponent “played a great match.”
For Cocciaretto, the win represents a major milestone. It’s her second career victory over a top 10 player at a Grand Slam and one of the biggest moments of her professional career. She credited her success to an aggressive game plan and belief in herself, calling the win “a dream.” She now advances to the second round with confidence and momentum on her side.
