Coco Gauff’s dream of clinching her maiden Wimbledon title came to a sudden halt this year as she crashed out in a stunning first-round defeat. The 21-year-old, fresh off her French Open triumph, was left visibly emotional after being outplayed by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in straight sets.
The shock defeat marked a disappointing early exit for one of tennis’ brightest stars and left fans and pundits alike questioning what went wrong for the world No. 2 at SW19. While Gauff was quick to praise her opponent’s stellar performance, she also opened up about her own preparation and the decisions that may have impacted her performance.
"Only practised for two days": Coco Gauff
Speaking candidly in her post-match press conference, Gauff reflected on the limited time she had to adjust to the grass-court conditions following her success at Roland Garros.
“I would say whether I would play Berlin or not again, if that were to happen again with the French Open. Because I only practised for two days. I don’t know. I just feel like this surface I could’ve used more matches, maybe,” she admitted.
Coco Gauff noted that finding the right balance between rest and competition during the short transition from clay to grass is a delicate puzzle. The young star hinted that she’s already thinking ahead to how she’ll handle this stretch in 2026.
“It’s like finding the puzzle. I don’t usually like to play the week before. It’s a quick turnaround. Trying to learn if it’s better to train more and then play Bad Homburg or Eastbourne. If that time comes around again, I’ll approach it differently.”
Giving credit where it's due
While many were quick to point to her scheduling as the cause of her defeat, Coco Gauff refused to put the blame solely on her own shoulders. Instead, she praised Yastremska for her fearless performance.
“I don’t think it was all that, either. Dayana played great. I felt like I wasn’t playing terribly in some points, and she was hitting winners. It’s a combination of everything.”
Looking Ahead: Lessons and motivation
Though the early Wimbledon exit stings, Gauff remains focused on the long road ahead. With the US Open just around the corner, she will look to regroup and reassert her dominance on the hard courts where she’s already found major success.
Coco Gauff’s comments suggest a matured mindset, embracing setbacks as stepping stones and showing her intent to learn and evolve. The heartbreak at Wimbledon may serve as fuel for her next Grand Slam journey, and fans can expect a more seasoned, better-prepared Gauff to return next year — with a revised game plan for conquering the grass.