Wimbledon witnessed one of the most shocking moments of the tournament as world No. 2, Coco Gauff, was eliminated in her opening match by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, with a score of 7-6 (7-3), 6-1. The young American star, fresh off her French Open triumph, struggled to find her rhythm on the London grass and ended the match emotionally shattered.
“I felt mentally overwhelmed with everything that came after Paris,” Gauff admitted, her voice cracking as she faced the press. Her early exit from the year’s third Grand Slam was a heavy blow for a player who had just claimed her second major title only weeks earlier.
Gauff praised her opponent’s level
Gauff didn’t hide her frustration. While she acknowledged her opponent’s impressive performance, she was candid about her own lack of readiness for the grass-court challenge. “I knew it was going to be a tough draw, but I didn’t adapt enough. I want to succeed at Wimbledon. I don’t like getting knocked out this early. I need to make changes if I really want to compete on this surface.”
This is the second time in three years that Gauff has fallen in the first round at Wimbledon. Despite being one of the tour’s brightest stars, her track record at the All England Club hasn’t yet matched her undeniable talent. The transition from clay to grass remains a hurdle she has yet to overcome.
Gauff reflects on the lessons from defeat
Overcome with emotion, Gauff couldn’t hold back tears as she admitted she expected much more from herself. “I know people will say I had a great French Open, but I don’t care… I hate losing. I’m disappointed in how I played today. I felt I could have done more, especially in the tough moments of the tiebreak.”
Still, she found room to reflect on what this early loss could mean for her growth. Although clearly hurt, she’s already setting her sights on her next big goal: the US Open. “Maybe losing now isn’t the worst thing. I have time to recover, work, and come back stronger. But yeah… it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Yastremska shines and quietly moves forward
While Gauff wrestled with her emotions, Dayana Yastremska celebrated one of the biggest wins of her career. Ranked No. 42 in the world, she played with precision, power, and confidence from the first point. “I was on a roll. Playing against Coco is always special-I really respect her,” she said after punching her ticket to the second round, where she’ll face Russia’s Anastasia Zakharova.
Gauff departs Wimbledon earlier than expected, but her honesty and vulnerability only make her more relatable. The tournament lost a star, but the emotional stakes are higher than ever.
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