Coco Gauff has suffered a shock first round defeat at Wimbledon this year.
Gauff was beaten by Dayana Yastremska in her first Grand Slam match since winning Roland Garros last month.
The world number two is the highest seeded casualty from Wimbledon so far, with Gauff’s defeat receiving a huge reaction.
While this is an unusual position for Gauff to be in, it is not the first time that she has suffered an opening round loss at Wimbledon.
What happened to Coco Gauff the last time she lost in the first round of Wimbledon
The only other time that Gauff has lost in the first round of Wimbledon is in 2023, when she was beaten by compatriot Sofia Kenin.
Gauff had reached the latter stages of Roland Garros again that year, but was unable to transition to the grass courts of Wimbledon.
However, what Gauff was able to do after that was truly remarkable, as she went on to win 18 of her next 19 matches.
Gauff would hire coach Brad Gilbert after her disappointment, and he would help her win titles in Washington D.C and Cincinnati ahead of her home Grand Slam at the US Open.
Despite not always playing her best tennis in New York, Gauff would win the Grand Slam at the US Open.
This would make her first round defeat at Wimbledon in 2023 worth it, as she became the first American to win the women’s singles title at her home major in six years.
What did Coco Gauff say her Wimbledon loss in 2023 made her want to do?
Although it was unclear as to what would be next for Gauff when she lost in the first round of the US Open in 2023, she had already hinted that better things were coming.
When speaking in her post-match press conference at Wimbledon that year, Gauff revealed that her defeat had only motivated her to get better.
“I mean, it really wants me to work harder,” said Gauff. “Right now I’m very frustrated and disappointed. So, yeah, I think it makes me want to work even harder. I feel like I have been working hard, but clearly it’s not enough.
“I have to go back to the drawing board and see where I need to improve and how to do the right drills to do that.”
This should reassure Gauff after her most recent loss to Yastremska, as she looks to bounce back ahead of the North American hard court swing.
Gauff has struggled on grass compared to the other surfaces, and should be much more comfortable on the hard courts closer to home.
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