Jessica Pegula loses in first round upset at Wimbledon

Third-seeded Jessica Pegula was upset in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday, losing 6-2, 6-3 to 116th-ranked Elisabetta Cocciaretto for the American's earliest exit at a Grand Slam tournament in five years.

LONDON — Third-seeded Jessica Pegula was upset in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday, losing 6-2, 6-3 to 116th-ranked Elisabetta Cocciaretto for the American's earliest exit at a Grand Slam tournament in five years.

Pegula, the world No. 3, came into the All England Club having won the the grass-court Bad Homburg Open in Germany on Saturday when she beat Iga Swiatek in straight sets.

The last time she lost in the first round at a major tournament was the French Open in 2020.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy celebrates in the first round on Tuesday at Wimbledon.Tim Clayton / Getty ImagesCocciaretto, whose ranking has dipped in recent months, told herself to "be more aggressive and go for it, don't think about losing or winning the point."

"I played a really great champion. She's an unbelievable player, she's a great example for all of us," the 24-year-old Italian said in her on-court interview after her first career top-5 victory.