By Louis Sealey
Jessica Pegula was dumped out of Wimbledon by Elisabetta Cocciaretto (Picture: Getty)
World number three Jessica Pegula called for a controversial rule change after her shock first-round exit at Wimbledon.
The American third seed was expected to enjoy a productive run at SW19 as a serial Grand Slam quarter-finalist but only claimed two games as she was comprehensively beaten by Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Pegula looked in fine shape ahead of the tournament, beating former world number one Iga Swiatek to win the title at Bad Homburg in Germany.
After becoming the highest seed to fall at the tournament so far, Pegula, 31, described her Wimbledon exit as her 鈥榳orst result of the year鈥.
It took Italy鈥檚 Cocciaretto, ranked 113 places behind Pegula in the world rankings, less than an hour to advance to the second round.
鈥楾his is definitely probably the worst result I鈥檝e had all year,鈥 the 2024 US Open finalist said.
鈥業鈥檝e been winning lots of matches. It鈥檚 just all about it having to come together for two weeks. Sometimes it doesn鈥檛 quite all align when you need it to.
Cocciaretto celebrates after beating third seed Pegula (Picture: Getty)
鈥業 haven鈥檛 lost first round of a Slam in a very long time, so that sucks. I used to kind of have trouble getting past the first round for a while.
鈥業 remember I had a really tough match and I just told myself, I鈥檓 done losing first round, I鈥檓 not losing first round.
鈥業t鈥檚 disappointing. I don鈥檛 know how else to put it. I鈥檓 upset that I wasn鈥檛 able to turn anything around.鈥
As well as expressing her disappointment, Pegula also revealed she believes men鈥檚 tennis should be reduced to three sets, as is the case in the women鈥檚 game.
Pegula was blown away in her first-round Wimbledon clash (Picture: Getty)
The American says best-of-three tennis produces more upsets and does not see the need for men to play best-of-five sets, which can lead to incredibly long games.
Carlos Alcaraz鈥檚 epic comeback win over Jannik Sinner in last month鈥檚 French Open final lasted five hours and 29 minutes, while the Spaniard鈥檚 opening Wimbledon win surpassed the four-hour mark.
鈥業 think it鈥檚 harder to win two-out-of-three than it is to win three-out-of-five,鈥 Pegula said.
鈥楴ot physically, obviously, but I think it always is going to cater to the better player in the long run if you鈥檙e playing three-out-of-five.
Laura Robson calls for five-set women’s matches at Grand Slams
鈥淚 think women absolutely could play best of five sets,鈥 Robson said on Eurosport鈥檚 Australian Open coverage.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a logistical nightmare for any tournament director to try and plan two best of five tournaments.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see why we don鈥檛 play best of five from quarter-finals onwards. Over the last few years, with the nerves of some playing their first finals, it would help them to have another set to work with.
鈥淚f they just had more time out there, you can tell that they鈥檇 recover further into the match. I know opinion is split, but I think they can do it.鈥
British tennis Laura Robson speaking to TNT Sports earlier this year.
鈥業 think you鈥檇 see a lot more upsets of top players if men played two-out-of-three in slams.
鈥業t鈥檚 a lot harder when you don鈥檛 have that much time. You get down one break and you鈥檙e like, 鈥淥h gosh, I鈥檓 kind of done鈥 I need some luck. I need someone to choke a little bit. There鈥檚 a lot to needs to happen now.鈥
Asked whether she was keen for women鈥檚 tennis to be played over five sets, Pegula added: 鈥楴o. I would rather the men play two-out-of-three.
鈥業 don鈥檛 think we all need to start playing three-out-of-five. For me it鈥檚 too long. I personally lose interest watching the matches.
鈥楬ard to believe men鈥檚 tennis will reduce to three sets鈥
鈥業 think they鈥檙e incredible matches and incredible physically and mentally. I鈥檓, like, Do we really need that? I don鈥檛 know. I mean, some people love it.
鈥業 personally will not watch a full five-hour match. People can鈥檛 even hold their attention long enough they say these days with phones. How are they holding their attention for five hours? I don鈥檛 know. Just not my thing.
鈥業 know some guys are really against it. Some aren鈥檛. I mean, I think it would be a lot easier for TV, for scheduling.
鈥楾V鈥檚 always talking about making everything faster and quicker, all of that stuff. So I don鈥檛 see why.
鈥業t鈥檚 been such a staple for the men. I find it hard to believe they鈥檙e ever going to change it. Maybe if they could also play three-out-of-five from the quarters on. I don鈥檛 know. Something like that.
鈥楾he game鈥檚 getting so physical. I don鈥檛 know why they鈥檇 want to, you know? It鈥檚 so important to stay healthy. Like with how physical the guys are playing right now, that鈥檚 really tough three-out-of-five for two weeks.
鈥業 mean, it鈥檚 crazy. It鈥檚 so impressive, but at the same time, like, does it really need to happen? I don鈥檛 know.
鈥楳aybe there鈥檚 something where they look at changing it for certain rounds. I think that might be interesting. I don鈥檛 know. I think that鈥檚 very far away.鈥
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