American WTA star Coco Gauff might have failed to extend her Wimbledon campaign as per the expectations, but the 21-year-old’s resilience shines through adversity. Her first-round exit at the All England Club, while disappointing, reveals a mature perspective on setbacks that could prove valuable as she prepares for the upcoming American hard-court season.
Gauff recently shared glimpses of a relaxing getaway with her boyfriend, Jalen Sera, as the couple cherished the happy vibes on the Fourth of July, demonstrating her ability to find a balance between professional disappointments and personal joy.
Gauff’s Wimbledon Setback Exposes Serving Struggles
Second seed Coco Gauff was the biggest name to lose in the first two days of the ongoing major event at Wimbledon. The WTA star was defeated in straight sets by Dayana Yastremska in a match that highlighted persistent technical issues that have plagued her game.
Gauff had just won her second Grand Slam title at the French Open last month, but she couldn’t find her best form on the grass courts of southwest London. Her serve produced disappointing numbers, with nine double faults undermining her confidence at crucial moments. She was broken four times on the way to a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 loss that exposed the gap between her clay-court success and grass-court adaptation.
The serving struggles represent a concerning pattern for Gauff, whose powerful baseline game translates more effectively to slower surfaces. While her rivals Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and others continue to chase the major title, Gauff decided to not let disappointment take over her mindset.
Instead, she cherished an outing with boyfriend Jalen Sara, spending her evening in Delray Beach, where Sara joined her for the adorable fireworks show on the Fourth of July.
She dropped glimpses of the quiet beach in the evening while her boyfriend, Jalen Sara, captured moments of the bright fireworks. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s social media posts reflected a deliberate effort to maintain perspective beyond tennis results.
Gauff has been dating Sara since 2023. Their relationship became known to the public early this year as she began sharing glimpses in interviews and on Instagram.
Gauff describes him as her “first real relationship” as he doesn’t belong to the tennis world but is from Atlanta, where she grew up. Sera is musically inclined and has acting aspirations, and surprisingly, was taught by Gauff’s mom in fourth-grade class.
Mental Resilience Points Toward US Open Reset
Gauff’s early exit at Wimbledon wasn’t just a sole disappointment for herself but for the countless fans who raised the bar of expectations after her Roland Garros win. However, despite the heavy emotional toll, the WTA star kept herself mentally strong and refrained from getting stuck in the loop of disappointment that can derail promising careers.
“I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing. The main thing I’m sure my team and everyone is going to tell me: ‘You did well at Roland-Garros. Don’t be so upset.’ Things like that,” she said.
“Obviously I’m not going to dwell on this too long, because I want to do well at the U.S. Open. Maybe losing here first round isn’t the worst thing in the world, because I have time to reset.”
COCO GAUFF 🇺🇸 after her elimination at WIMBLEDON : 💬 pic.twitter.com/istgdKQtv0
— 🇺🇸 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗢 𝗚𝗔𝗨𝗙𝗙 👑 🅽🅴🆆🆂 (@COCO_GAUFF_NEWS) July 1, 2025
After the defeat, Gauff will now prepare for another transition to hard courts as she prepares for the most awaited American swing. The extended preparation time could prove beneficial for addressing the serving inconsistencies that plagued her Wimbledon campaign, while her positive mindset suggests she’s positioned to bounce back stronger on her preferred surface.