Coco Gauff’s hopes of completing a “Channel Slam” by adding a Wimbledon title to her French Open triumph came to a stunning end in the first round, as she was knocked out by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. The second seed’s early exit marks the biggest upset of the tournament so far and leaves questions hanging over her readiness for grass-court play.
The match, lasting less than two hours, was defined by a combination of Gauff’s errors and Yastremska’s power-driven, aggressive performance. While the American started well and showed moments of brilliance, particularly with her serve and forehand, her game began to unravel during the first-set tie-break. Two double faults, one following a let, highlighted a visible collapse in confidence. From that point, Yastremska seized full control.
Gauff’s frustrations were evident after the match as she admitted to feeling disappointed and at a loss to explain her performance. Despite being one of the favourites to go deep into the tournament, she struggled to find solutions once Yastremska began dictating the rallies. Instead of varying her strategy or shot selection, Gauff opted to increase power, which only led to more unforced errors.
Yastremska, by contrast, appeared both fearless and composed. Despite claiming she had no expectations of winning before the match, she delivered a clinical display, especially off her forehand side. Her aggressive returns and low, flat shots kept Gauff off balance and prevented her from finding rhythm. Breaking Gauff’s serve multiple times, Yastremska showcased remarkable precision and resilience, taking the second set 6-1 with little resistance.
The defeat echoes Gauff’s previous struggles at Wimbledon, where, despite a sensational debut as a 15-year-old in 2019, she has yet to make it past the fourth round. The crowd, firmly in her corner, could do little to lift her on this occasion, as Yastremska’s dominance left little room for a comeback.
Gauff wasn’t the only major casualty on day two of the tournament. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula was also knocked out in straight sets by Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Pegula, too, found herself unable to pinpoint the cause of her poor performance, though she credited her opponent’s inspired play.
There was also an emotional goodbye for two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who bowed out after a straight-sets defeat to Emma Navarro. The 35-year-old wildcard plans to retire after the US Open, marking the end of a decorated career that included two memorable triumphs on the grass of SW19.
For Gauff, the loss will sting, but it also underlines the challenges of adapting to grass and the unpredictability of early-round Grand Slam tennis.
