Wimbledon Shocker: Gauff, Pegula, Zverev Among Record Number of Seeds Crashing Out in Round One

Day two of Wimbledon saw a stunning series of upsets, with a record-tying number of seeded players exiting the tournament in the first round. Among the high-profile casualties were Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Alexander Zverev.

Record Number of Seeds Fall

A total of 23 seeded players – 13 men and 10 women – were eliminated in the first two days. Eight of those were top-10 seeds, setting an Open Era record for early exits at Wimbledon. This marks the first time in the Open Era that two of the top three seeds have been ousted in the first round of a Grand Slam.

While some top players like Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime faced tough five-set battles, they managed to avoid the upset bug.

Key Upsets

• Alexander Zverev (No. 3 seed) was defeated by Arthur Rinderknech (ranked 72nd), who had a limited track record at Grand Slam events.
• Lorenzo Musetti (No. 7 seed) lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili (ranked 126th).
• Coco Gauff (No. 2) suffered a straight-sets loss to Dayana Yastremska.
• Jessica Pegula (No. 3) was defeated by Elisabetta Cocciaretto in under an hour.

Rinderknech expressed his excitement after defeating Zverev, calling it his "first top-five win, in the biggest stadium in the world."

Djokovic Battles Through Illness

Novak Djokovic, during his first-round match, required medical attention for a stomach issue. He credited "miracle pills" provided by a doctor for helping him overcome the ailment and secure a four-set victory against Alexandre Muller.

Despite the setback, Djokovic remains undefeated in the first round at Wimbledon, boasting a 20-0 record. He reaffirmed his belief in his chances of winning the title, stating that grass is the surface where he plays his best tennis.

Zverev Opens Up About Mental Health

Following his defeat, Alexander Zverev spoke candidly about his struggles with mental health, revealing feelings of loneliness and a lack of joy. He expressed considering therapy for the first time in his life.

Kvitova's Wimbledon Farewell

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova played her final match at the All England Club, losing to Emma Navarro. She plans to retire after the US Open, citing the challenges of balancing motherhood with her tennis career.

Kvitova expressed her gratitude for the memories she made at Wimbledon, a place where she "never dreamed of winning" but ultimately triumphed twice.