Coco Gauff looked lost in London.
Jessica Pegula was even worse and barely showed up at Wimbledon.
Coco Gauff suffered an unexpected setback in the first round on No. 1 CourtGettyWimbledon Woe
Coco Gauff's Wimbledon record
2019 – Fourth Round (lost v Simona Halep)
2020 – Tournament not held
2021 – Fourth Round (lost v Angelique Kerber)
2022 – Third Round (lost v Amanda Anisimova)
2023 – First Round (lost v Sofia Kenin)
2024 – Fourth Round (lost v Emma Navarro)
2025 – First Round (lost v Dayana Yastremska)
Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe still held hope for Americans as second-round play began on an overcast and rainy Wednesday in south west London.
Tiafoe went the same way as Gauff and Pegula, while Keys remains on course for a second Grand Slam title of the year.
But it was French Open champion Gauff’s stunning straight-set letdown on Tuesday was a painful reminder that the rest of the world continues to dominate a sport that once belonged to Serena Williams and Pete Sampras.
It’s been 25 years since an American male won the most prestigious tennis tournament on the annual calendar.
Thanks to the power of the Williams sisters, the American women’s drought at Wimbledon only dates back to 2016.
But that makes 34 combined years, and Gauff’s 6-7, 1-6 stunner was the latest proof that a full program turnaround won’t appear anytime soon.
“After the match, I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing,” Gauff said.
It seems barely believable the American who burst onto the scene on the grass as a 15-year-old by beating Venus Williams in 2019 has never gone beyond the fourth round.
“I think for me, the main thing — I’m sure my team and everyone is going to tell me, ‘You did well at Roland Garros, don’t be so upset,’ things like that. I don’t really like losing.”
Gauff should have been better on Tuesday, and her body language only became worse as she kept giving away points and once again her service game crumbled in a big spot.
GettyGauff become frustrated with herself as the match unfolded[/caption] GettyJessica Pegula also suffered first-round disappointment[/caption] GettySerena Williams was the last American woman to win Wimbledon in 2016[/caption]But at least the 21-year-old star didn’t blame a late-court change – and she has two Grand Slam singles titles to her name.
“I was preparing to play a little bit later,” said Gauff, discussing a move from Centre Court.
“I found out about 6:35 (p.m.) that we would not be before 7:30 (p.m.) At that point, I hadn’t really eaten yet. I was trying to hold offbecause I thought maybe we were going after Novak (Djokovic).
“I don’t think it really affected the match, to be honest. I’ve played with quick turnarounds and things like that. Yeah, I figured we would be moved at some point, but we don’t know. But I definitely don’t think the court change affected the way the match went.”
Gauff acknowledged before her Wimbledon return that balancing her recent French Open title with a brief break before another major wasn’t ideal.
But she also made it clear that she was zeroed in on London, and wanted to keep winning huge matches before packed crowds.
Getty - PoolAndy Murray and Williams pose at the 2016 Wimbledon Champions Dinner[/caption]“The first two days after (the French Open), I was just trying to really take it in and stuff,” Gauff said before her first-round upset.
“Once I got back from New York, I was pretty much more focused on here, just thinking about what I need to do, where I feel the areas of my game I need to improve on.
“I think, for me, I’d rather just stay in the moment and think about this, and kind of forget (the) French and then revisit it maybe at the end of the season, and celebrate it a little bit more.
“I still want to do really well here. I feel pretty confident on the court. For me, it was important just to forget, which is easy for me because I’m always looking for the next thing.”
The next big thing definitely wasn’t Wimbledon in 2025.
Gauff now has the US Open in August to prepare for, and her 2023 victory at the New York tournament was a career breakthrough.
Seeking some comfort in defeat, Gauff just need to look back two years, a first round defeat in SW19 to fellow American Amanda Anisimova was followed by much soul-searching and just a couple of months later she was lifting the trophy in New York.
Keys was victorious on Wednesday, but as it stands is the only American women in the Round of 32 – that is likely to change, but the struggles were not just Gauff’s.
AFPPegula has never gone beyond the quarterfinal at the All England Club[/caption]Pegula fell even harder in the first round at Wimbledon, and she’s yet to deliver on her top-seed potential.
The world No. 3 lost 6-2, 6-3 to unseeded Elisabetta Cocciaretto, and wasn’t even on Court 2 for a full hour.
“I’ve done really well up until this part of the year,” Pegula said.
“This is definitely probably the worst result I’ve had all year.”
Gauff was the same in the first round, and an uneven American game must find someone else to carry the torch after another disappointing start at Wimbledon.
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