London – SABA:
In a major shock at Wimbledon, the third Grand Slam of the year, world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States was knocked out in the first round on Tuesday by Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked 116th in the world.
The Italian player needed just 57 minutes to secure a straight-sets victory (6-2, 6-3) over her American opponent, marking her first win against Pegula in their second career meeting.
This loss comes as a huge blow for Pegula, who had high hopes for a deep run at Wimbledon. Her participation followed just two days after winning the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, where she defeated Poland’s Iga Świątek in the final.
The 2023 US Open runner-up has had a disappointing performance in Grand Slams this year, having previously exited in the third round of the Australian Open against Serbia’s Olga Danilović and the round of 16 at Roland Garros at the hands of world No. 361 French player Lois Boisson.
Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Italian, Cocciaretto, has never advanced past the third round at Wimbledon. Her best Grand Slam performance remains a round of 16 appearance at last year’s French Open.
This unexpected result shakes up the women’s draw at Wimbledon, leaving fans wondering if Cocciaretto can capitalize on this momentum for a deeper run in the tournament.
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