Pegula handed early Wimbledon exit by No. 116

WIMBLEDON, England -- American No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula suffered her earliest defeat at a major since 2020 as she was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the world No. 116, in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Pegula, 31, came into Wimbledon on the back of her ninth career title in Bad Homburg, Germany, where she beat former world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the final -- on grass. She wore tape on her left knee.

"She played absolutely incredible tennis. Pegula said of the 24-year-old Cocciaretto. "Do I think I played the best match ever? No. But I definitely don't think I was playing bad. It wasn't like I was playing that bad.

"She just was hitting her shots and going for it, serving big, serving high percentage, going big second serves, redirecting the ball. It was just her day, I honestly think."

The match took less than an hour. Pegula is the highest seed to fall in either the women's or men's singles.

Pegula had beaten Cocciaretto in their only previous meeting, at Wimbledon in 2023, but hit just five winners and made 24 unforced errors as she slumped to defeat. She also struggled on second serve, winning just 42% of points.

"[I told myself to] be more aggressive and go for it," said Cocciaretto, whose ranking has dipped in recent months. "Don't think about losing or winning the point."

It's the first time Pegula has lost in the first round of any Grand Slam event since the 2020 French Open.

"I played a really great champion," Cocciaretto said of Pegula in her on-court interview. "She's an unbelievable player. She's a great example for all of us."

Cocciaretto will play either Tatiana Maria of Germany or another American, Katie Volynets, in the second round.