In a surprising turn of events at Wimbledon on Tuesday, American tennis sensation Coco Gauff faced a shocking first-round exit. The 21-year-old, seeded second, was defeated 7-6(3), 6-1 by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, ranked 42nd in the world.
Gauff, who recently triumphed at the French Open, was expected to make a strong run at the All England Club. However, she struggled to find her rhythm, committing nine double-faults and 29 unforced errors with only six winners.
“Mentally, I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came after the French Open,” Gauff admitted. “I didn’t feel like I had enough time to celebrate and get back into it. It’s a learning experience, and I’ll approach it differently next time.”
Her defeat marks her earliest Grand Slam exit since a first-round loss at Wimbledon in 2023. Gauff joins fellow high-profile players Jessica Pegula and Zheng Qinwen of China among the unexpected departures from the tournament.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Iga Swiatek advanced to the second round with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Russia’s Polina Kudermetova. The World No. 4 faced a challenging first set but managed to seize control, winning eight of the last nine games.
This win marks Swiatek’s 61st consecutive victory in opening matches, the longest streak by any woman this century. She is set to face the USA’s Caty McNally in the next round, who defeated Britain’s Jodie Burrage in straight sets.
As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see how these developments shape the competition. With top seeds exiting early and others making history, Wimbledon 2024 promises to be full of surprises.
