Jessica Pegula’s Wimbledon Loss: A Grand Slam Dream Derailed?

Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, suffered a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025, raising questions about her Grand Slam title hopes. Pegula, who arrived at the All England Club fresh off a title win at the Bad Homburg Open, was defeated by Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets. This early loss marks her first first-round Grand Slam exit in five years and has left fans and analysts wondering if she can bounce back and finally capture a major title.

Unexpected Defeat at Wimbledon

Pegula’s defeat to Cocciaretto was unexpected, especially considering her recent victory over Iga Swiatek in the Bad Homburg Open final. However, Pegula struggled during the match, landing only half of her first serves and committing 24 unforced errors. Cocciaretto, ranked No. 116 in the world, played a strong match, seizing the opportunity and securing her first-ever win against a Top 5 player. Pegula acknowledged Cocciaretto’s strong performance, stating that her opponent “was hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball”.

Knee Issue

There were reports that Pegula was visibly hampered by a knee issue during the match, with strapping on her leg. This may have contributed to her struggles on the court, as she appeared to have difficulty finding her rhythm.

Grand Slam Performance

Despite being a consistent performer on the WTA tour, Pegula has yet to win a Grand Slam title. She reached the final of the 2024 US Open but lost. She has also reached the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Previous Grand Slam Results in 2025

Before Wimbledon 2025, Pegula’s Grand Slam results for the year were mixed:

• Australian Open: Round of 32
• French Open: Round of 16

Comments on Best-of-Five Sets

Pegula has shared her thoughts on the debate about women playing best-of-five set matches at Grand Slams. While some argue that it would add excitement and drama to the women’s game, Pegula is not in favor of the idea, stating, “Would I want to play three out of five? No”. She also suggested that men should play two out of three sets instead, expressing that she loses interest in watching matches that are too long.

Looking Ahead

Following her early exit at Wimbledon, Pegula expressed her desire to focus on preparing for the hard court season, which is reportedly her favorite surface. She hopes to “make some more magic this summer”. Despite the disappointing loss, Pegula remains optimistic about her future and her chances of winning a Grand Slam title.