Jessica Pegula crashed out of Wimbledon in the opening round against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, becoming the highest-ranked player to exit the tournament. The No.3 seed lost 6-2, 6-3 in just 58 minutes. Pegula was one of the favourites for the title and is a former quarter-finalist here but appeared to struggle with a knee injury, which was taped up.

The American fell to the world No.116 to exit a Grand Slam in the first round for the first time since the 2020 French Open. Cocciaretto said: "To play here in such an unbelievable stadium and tournament is a dream come true for me.

"I was so pumped to play this year. I couldn't wait for the match to start because I've been practicing as hard as possible. I hope to play as many matches as possible here.

"She is an unbelievable player and a great example to all of us. Thanks for the support and to my team, without them I couldn't stay here today."

Pegula made 24 unforced errors and just five winners as mistakes cost her in the midday heat at SW19, which rose to 32C. But the 31-year-old didn't feel like she played badly.

"I don't know. She played absolutely, like, incredible tennis," Pegula said. "Do I think I played the best match ever? No, but I definitely don't think I was playing bad. It wasn't like I was playing that bad.

"She just was, yeah, hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball. It was just her day I honestly think today, yeah."

Cocciaretto reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2023, where she lost to Pegula.

"I played with a player like her before, like Iga [Swiatek] and Aryna [Sabalenka], you have to do the best that you can on the court and take the little chance that they give you," Cocciaretto added.

"I tried to be more aggressive and go for it, and don't think about losing the point. I just went for it and think I did a good job today. I am super happy."

Cocciaretto was hospitalised last summer therefore unable to compete in the 2024 edition of The Championships.

“I had a lot of stops last year. I was in hospital and I was sick for one month and I couldn’t play here," she explained.

"That’s why I was so pumped to play because I think it’s the best tournament and grass is always special to play. I don’t think too much about my ranking right now. With the ranking, you can play other tournaments. The journey of tennis is so long and up and down always. You have to adapt yourself and enjoy and accept what happens in life."

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