LONDON :Fresh off a title in Bad Homburg and tipped for a deep run at Wimbledon, world number three Jessica Pegula crashed out in the first round on Tuesday, stunned 6-2 6-3 by unheralded Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
It was a meek surrender from Pegula, who looked subdued from the start on Court Two. She landed only half her first serves, struck a mere five winners and sprayed 24 unforced errors in a display more tentative than tenacious.
Cocciaretto, meanwhile, kept her composure and her smile.
The world number 116 was rock-solid throughout, breaking the American four times and exacting revenge for her straight-sets defeat at Wimbledon two years ago.
It marked only the second top-10 win of Cocciaretto’s career, but was thoroughly deserved.
“Playing on this court is a dream for me,” she said.
