Tennis star Coco Gauff suffer early elimination at Wimbledon in an unexpected defeat
In a surprising turn of events at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, unseeded Dayana Yastremska from Ukraine stunned the tennis world by defeating the No. 2 seed and reigning French Open champion, Coco Gauff, in a match that lasted just 1 hour and 19 minutes. This victory, Yastremska's second career win over a Top 2 player, marks a significant upset with far-reaching implications for women's major history.
Gauff, who had just secured her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, became only the third woman in the Open era to lose in the first round at Wimbledon immediately following a Roland Garros victory[1][5]. Yastremska, ranked No. 42, delivered a ferocious and confident performance under the roof of No. 1 Court, defeating Gauff 7-6(3), 6-1.
Despite Gauff's strong recent form, she struggled with her game, making 29 unforced errors including nine double faults, and only managing six winners[1][3]. Yastremska's strong baseline play and tactical execution disrupted Gauff's rhythm, especially notable in the dominant second set.
This loss is part of a broader wave of upsets on Day 2, where 23 seeds (13 men and 10 women) were eliminated, tying the record for most seeds knocked out before the first round ended at a Grand Slam since seeding 32 players began in 2001[1][2]. Alongside Gauff, No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 5 seed Zheng Qinwen also fell, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this Wimbledon.
Yastremska's victory not only disrupts the expected progression at a major but also showcases her potential to impact the women's tour and major championships going forward[2]. For women's major history, Gauff's early exit after a Grand Slam title disrupts the narrative of a dominant champion carrying momentum across surfaces. It underscores the immense pressure and unique challenges posed by the grass courts at Wimbledon, even for top-ranked players coming in with strong recent form.
Yastremska, who reached the semifinal at the 2024 Australian Open, expressed gratitude for the support she received during the match and let out a victorious primal scream after securing the victory[2][4]. Gauff, a two-time grand slam winner, appeared tight and conservative with her strong forehand and serving during the match, and she attributed her loss to feeling mentally overwhelmed due to her recent win at the French Open[1].
In a post-match interview, Yastremska mentioned that she enjoys playing on grass courts and expressed hope for continued success in the tournament[4]. Gauff, on the other hand, accepted that the match was a tough one for her due to the strong draw and acknowledged that Yastremska played great in the match[1]. Yastremska also stated that she feels she has made friends with Coco Gauff[6].
This is Yastremska's biggest career win, as it marks the first time in women's major history in the Open Era that two of the top three seeds lost in the first round[7]. The result also highlights the depth and competitiveness of the women's game, where lower-ranked and unseeded players can deliver breakthrough performances and alter tournament dynamics dramatically.
In the wake of her impressive victory, Dayana Yastremska indicated that she enjoys playing sports like tennis, showcasing her potential to make further impactful marks on the women's tour and major championships. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff, following her unexpected defeat, admitted to feeling mentally overwhelmed due to her recent success at Roland Garros, suggesting that the pressure and unique challenges posed by Wimbledon's grass courts may have played a role in her performance.
