Fresh off a dominant run to the French Open title, Coco Gauff was expected to go deep at Wimbledon. But on Tuesday, the 20-year-old American suffered one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, losing 7–6(3), 6–1 to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, ranked No. 42 in the world.
The early exit marked Gauff’s earliest Grand Slam loss since her first-round defeat at Wimbledon in 2022. So, what exactly went wrong?
1. Gauff’s Serve Crumbled Under Pressure
Serving has always been one of Gauff’s inconsistencies, and at Wimbledon, it completely unraveled. She hit nine double faults, landed just 45% of first serves, and won only 44% of second-serve points.
With Yastremska standing aggressively at the baseline, Gauff’s second serve became a liability. Even under the closed roof, eliminating weather as a factor, she still couldn’t find her rhythm. The breakdown in her serve handed momentum to her opponent, who capitalized without hesitation.
2. Mental Fatigue After French Open Glory
Coco Gauff admitted she may have underestimated the mental toll of winning a Grand Slam.
“I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” Gauff said post-match. “I didn’t feel like I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it.”
Having lost her only grass-court warm-up in Berlin, Gauff entered Wimbledon with little momentum. Her six total winners against 25 unforced errors spoke volumes about her energy levels and confidence.
3. Yastremska Was a Tough Draw
Though unseeded, Dayana Yastremska was among the most dangerous floaters in the draw. She reached the Nottingham final, Eastbourne quarterfinals, and has a history of Grand Slam runs, including the 2022 Australian Open semifinals.
Despite her 25 unforced errors, Yastremska blasted 16 winners and stayed aggressive throughout. “I was really on fire,” she said. “It is a pleasure to be here.”
Gauff agreed: “She played great… I knew today would be tough.”
Gauff is still just 20 and learning what it takes to manage the pressure of being a major champion. Tuesday’s loss may sting, but it also offers valuable lessons about scheduling, preparation, and mindset.
With the U.S. hard-court season around the corner, Gauff will look to regroup quickly and likely come back even stronger.
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