Coco Gauff experienced a surprising exit from Wimbledon after being defeated in the first round by Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. This unexpected outcome at the prestigious grass court event has raised questions about Gauff’s performance and adaptability on this surface.

Gauff entered Wimbledon as the reigning Roland Garros champion, having claimed her second Grand Slam title just last month by defeating Aryna Sabalenka. Despite this momentum, concerns had been noted as she was coming into Wimbledon with only one grass court match played this season.

Expert insights on Gauff’s early Wimbledon exit

Gauff’s elimination from Wimbledon sparked significant discussion, especially since she was the highest seed to exit both men’s and women’s singles draws early. Jim Courier, a four-time Grand Slam champion, shared his analysis during a Tennis Channel broadcast, focusing on Gauff’s defensive playing style.

Courier described Gauff as the world’s best defender in women’s tennis but pointed out that defensive skills yield less advantage on grass courts compared to hard and clay surfaces.

I think what happens is that offence beat defence and it almost always does if you play at the same level,

Courier explained.

Good offence is always going to beat good defence on grass because you simply cannot use your defensive skills in the same way that you can on hard or on a clay court.

He emphasized that Gauff’s defensive mindset makes grass courts especially challenging for her.

And when she runs into a player like Yastremska, who has offensive artillery available and she stood up to the moment. Coco simply did not have answers for it.

—Jim Courier, Tennis Channel Analyst

Following Courier’s comments, former world number one Lindsay Davenport also weighed in, suggesting Gauff’s quick transition from Roland Garros to Wimbledon played a role in the upset.

She has had good results here in the past,

Courier noted, adding that Gauff’s past performances included reaching the tournament’s second week multiple times.

Davenport highlighted the limited time Gauff had between her French Open win, media obligations in New York, and preparing for grass, stating the surface demands a completely different style of play.

But it is going to be the most challenging surface for her on that week. You have to be able to meet it out in front. You’ve got to be able to drive through the court. She prefers to lean back and get it up and over. That shot does not pay off on the grass but if she had more time, that’s a double edged sword.

—Lindsay Davenport, Former World No. 1

Davenport added that while Gauff’s best performances come on clay courts, particularly at Roland Garros, her grass court record remains less consistent.

She wants to do well on Roland Garros, her best surface. I think if you’re Gauff you chalk it up to this was a tough grass court season, 0-2, but she has her second Grand Slam title.

—Lindsay Davenport

Gauff joins rare list of Roland Garros champions with early Wimbledon exits

Gauff’s first round defeat is a rare occurrence for reigning French Open champions at Wimbledon, underscoring the difficulty players often face when switching surfaces between these two major events. This marks only the fourth time Gauff has lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam, with two of those matches coming at Wimbledon.

Historically, only a small number of women’s singles Roland Garros winners have failed to advance past their first Wimbledon match. Since the Open Era began, just three French Open champions have suffered first round exits at Wimbledon: Justine Henin in 2005, Francesca Schiavone in 2010, and now Coco Gauff in 2025.

3 – The Women’s Singles reigning French Open champion lost in the First Round in Wimbledon for the third time in the Open Era
Justine Henin (2005 vs Daniilidou)
Francesca Schiavone (2010 vs Dushevina)
Coco Gauff (2025 vs Yastremska)
Halt.#Wimbledon | @Wimbledon @WTA

—OptaAce Twitter

This comparison places Gauff in an unfortunate group who struggled with the rapid surface transition, demonstrating the challenge of adapting from clay to grass.

After her loss, Gauff acknowledged she anticipated what her team would say about the defeat. With one of the tournament‘s prominent players out early, the draw has now opened up for other contenders.

Looking ahead, Gauff is expected to shift focus toward the North American hard court season, beginning with the tournament in Montreal. This move should provide an opportunity to regain form and confidence after a difficult grass court campaign.