Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon dream comes crashing down! Bursting into the spotlight at just 15 by stunning five-time champion Venus Williams in 2019 as a qualifier, Gauff had struggled to get past the fourth round since reaching it in 2019, 2021, and 2024. She showed promise on every surface and arrived at SW19 fresh off her French Open win, with tennis legends like Chris Evert and Tim Henman backing her for another Grand Slam this year. Many had hoped she’d recreate Serena’s “Channel Slam” this year, but Dayana Yastremska proved a tougher opponent.

On Tuesday, the No. 2 seed faced a shocking straight-sets defeat to the Ukrainian. Though Coco fought hard, returning well and leveling the first set, Yastremska’s strong serve and clutch play edged her out in the tiebreak. The 21-year-old American couldn’t keep pace, falling 6-7, 1-6. Yikes!

Yastremska delivered a masterclass, winning 13 games to 7. Coco Gauff struggled with nine double faults compared to Yastremska’s two. The Ukrainian’s first serve accuracy (62%) and a powerful second serve win rate (68%) kept her in control. She converted four of six break points, while Gauff managed just one. Yastremska outscored her 64 to 52, showing consistency and clutch play at its best.

This also means Serena Williams remains the last and only American WTA player to win Wimbledon in the 21st century! With an astonishing seven singles titles at the All England Club, she’s tied with Steffi Graf for the second-most in the Open Era, trailing only Martina Navratilova.

Serena’s dominance didn’t stop there. In doubles, she and sister Venus formed an undefeated Grand Slam final team, capturing six Wimbledon women’s doubles crowns. She also claimed a mixed doubles title in 1998, showcasing her all-court prowess. Altogether, Serena’s Wimbledon trophy cabinet boasts an incredible 14 titles.

The women’s draw at Wimbledon saw some shocking early exits, with the No. 2 seed joining a growing list of top players bowing out in the first round. Among them were No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula and No. 9 seed Paula Badosa, both falling surprisingly early. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff’s grass-court record now stands at 24 wins and 12 losses.

Not to mention, this early Wimbledon exit followed a disappointing first-round loss at the Berlin Open, where Gauff fell 6-3, 6-3 to qualifier Xinyu Wang. Despite a bye into round two, Coco’s serve faltered with seven double faults and just 38% first-serve accuracy. Struggling to find the rhythm that brought her French Open glory, she couldn’t make the smooth transition to grass. Though many hoped she would clinch the “Channel Slam,” Coco stayed grounded with her expectations.

Coco Gauff speaks about the possibility of winning Wimbledon

On Saturday, she shared her thoughts on the rare feat of winning both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year. “Oh, that would be really hard. I understand why it hasn’t been done that often. Except I guess Carlos, he makes it look pretty easy. Novak [Djokovic], too. I didn’t realize it was 10 years since Serena,” she said via Arab News. Serena Williams famously achieved this twice—first in 2002 by beating Venus in both finals, then again in 2015—showcasing her incredible versatility across surfaces.

Carlos Alcaraz joined this elite club in 2024, capturing the French Open and Wimbledon titles just weeks apart. “It is a quick turnaround. I think that’s the reason why this kind of double is so hard,” Gauff explained. Only three weeks separate the two majors, making it tough to switch gears from clay to grass. Alcaraz managed it by celebrating briefly in Ibiza before winning the Queen’s Club tournament and then focusing on Wimbledon—a strategy that clearly paid off.

Coco Gauff herself has taken inspiration from Alcaraz’s approach before. After the French Open, she admitted trying to “model” herself after his philosophy: “Just enjoy the life in general, I find you play better. Yeah, for sure, I think he has a great philosophy, and it is something that I am trying to model.” She even joked about staying in Europe next year to enjoy the vibe instead of jetting back to the U.S., saying, “If I were to do that again, maybe I should stay on this side of the world and have fun.”

Though Wimbledon didn’t go her way this time, Coco’s mindset is clear—she’s aiming to come back stronger with fresh energy on the grass courts next season. For now, fans can catch every thrilling moment of the Championships live on the blog!