Elisabetta Cocciaretto, world No. 116, caused a major shock at Wimbledon 2025 by defeating No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6‑2, 6‑3, on July 1, 2025. The match lasted just 58 minutes, making it one of the quickest upsets of the tournament so far.
Quick Match Highlights
- Cocciaretto broke Pegula’s serve four times.
- Pegula managed only five winners and committed 24 unforced errors.
- Her first-serve success fell to around 50%, and she won just 42–50% of her second-serve points.
Historic Achievement for Italy
Cocciaretto’s victory marks:
- The first time any Italian, male or female, has beaten a top-3 seed at Wimbledon in the Open Era (since 1968).
- The first time an Italian woman has defeated a WTA top-3 player at a Grand Slam since 2015 (Roberta Vinci and Flavia Pennetta at the US Open).
Player Reactions
Pegula (No. 3 seed and recently Bad Homburg champion):
“It was terrible… It’s so frustrating when something you’ve been working on so much doesn’t come through… especially on grass.”
Her last first-round loss at a Grand Slam was at the 2020 French Open, and she had a streak of 17 first-round wins in majors.
Cocciaretto (No. 116, aged 24):
“I was so pumped to play here… I told myself to be more aggressive and go for it. Don’t think about winning or losing the point.”
She also praised the crowd and said playing on this court was a dream.
What’s Next?
Cocciaretto will face American Katie Volynets in the second round—a chance to continue her deep run.
For Pegula, after a strong lead-up at Bad Homburg, the focus now shifts to recalibrating on hard courts this summer.
Why This Matters
- Biggest upset of Wimbledon Day 2, knocking out the highest seed in the draw.
- Cemented Cocciaretto’s second-ever Top‑10 win, following a victory over Petra Kvitova at Roland Garros 2023.
