Wimbledon has delivered its fair share of shocks this year, especially on the WTA side, and for American fans, Coco Gauff’s early exit hit the hardest. The reigning Roland Garros champion and 2nd seed at the All England Club bowed out in a stunning first-round upset. Now back home in Delray Beach, Florida, Gauff appears to be shaking off the sting of defeat. Escaping the ghosts of her Wimbledon campaign, she’s turned her focus to brighter moments, ringing in America’s special day with joy and pride alongside her beau, Jalen Sera, in full celebration mode.

Just a couple of hours ago, Coco Gauff took to IG to share a pair of heartfelt stories that gave fans a glimpse into her peaceful return home. In the first story, she posted a serene still from the beachside in Delray, Florida, her hometown, captioning the location below a tranquil ocean view. The moment played to the soft rhythm of Heaven is a Home, painting a perfect picture of calm after the chaos of Wimbledon. And just moments later, Coco shared a second story, this time celebrating America’s Independence Day. Firecrackers burst from the heart of the ocean in a dazzling display, with Lana Del Rey’s National Anthem echoing in the background.

Coco’s beau, Jalen Sera, mirrored her stories on his own IG. He first posted the same beachside image, subtly matching Coco’s peaceful vibe. Then, just minutes later, he shared the same 4th of July celebration, this time as a still image of the firecracker-lit sky. The pair’s shared celebration spoke volumes without saying a word, just love, peace, and fireworks.

Although Coco Gauff and Jalen Sera are rarely seen together in public, their 4th of July outing this year felt like more than just a celebration; it looked like healing in motion. Still, beneath the fireworks and beachside calm, the sting of Wimbledon remains fresh. And why wouldn’t it? Gauff’s grass-court campaign ended in heartbreak, as she became the highest seed to fall in the tournament’s first two days.

The newly crowned Roland Garros champion couldn’t find her rhythm on the surface where her journey first exploded into global fame. Just a month after her triumphant run in Paris, Gauff looked a shadow of her dominant self, plagued by nine double faults and four breaks in a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 loss to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Her serve vanished when it mattered most, and with it, her momentum.

It was at the All England Club back in 2019, just 15 years old, when Gauff stunned Venus Williams and announced herself to the world. But despite the magic of that breakout moment, grass has remained her toughest battleground. Wimbledon is the only Slam where she hasn’t cracked the semifinals.

Last year, she made it to the R16 before falling to Emma Navarro. This time, the hurt hit earlier and harder. Following her loss, even the greatest former players shared their sorrow.

Former Grand Slam champ says Gauff’s Wimbledon hopes derailed much earlier

In the July 2 episode of her podcast, Rennae Stubbs sat down with former German pro, Andrea Petkovic, to dissect what exactly led to Coco Gauff’s early Wimbledon exit. Petkovic pointed toward the relentless tennis calendar, suggesting that the World No. 2 didn’t have enough time to mentally and physically reset after her French Open triumph. “I don’t know how much time she had to practice to get ready, mentally ready into the next such a big event on the calendar. And it’s just hard to do. It’s so packed, the calendar,” she said.

Stubbs, however, took the analysis deeper. She pointed to Gauff’s lack of preparation on grass. “I think that certainly did contribute, maybe, because she didn’t have the prep that she needed on grass,” Stubbs explained. The absence of enough grass-court matches before the Slam left Gauff undercooked for the surface’s unique demands.

But ultimately, Stubbs believed the outcome was sealed the moment the draw came out. “It just came down to matchup, Petko,” she said. Yastremska, she explained, was simply the worst possible first-round opponent for Gauff. “What does Yastremska do? She’s the one, two, three maximum punch player. Bang with the return, bang with the second shot, serve plus one.”

Highlighting how the Ukrainian’s explosive game clipped Coco’s rhythm, Stubbs added, “She’s not going to rally for six or seven. And Yastremska’s ability to maybe hit five great shots, that’s very rare.” 

Now, with Wimbledon behind her, the focus shifts to Gauff’s hard-court swing, where she must regroup, refocus, and reignite that Grand Slam flame!

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