Wimbledon has always been a stage where fairy tales unfold—where underdogs become champions and legends are born in shadows. For American hopes, though, the dream nearly vanished on Day 1, as Coco Gauff, fresh off her triumph in Paris, suffered a shocking first-round exit. But did that break her champion spirit? Not even close. Gauff, ever the vibrant soul, shook off the heartbreak in true Gen Z style by erupting in pure joy over her favorite Love Island couple. Forget the loss, Coco’s heart still beats with passion, proving that a champion’s fire doesn’t flicker, even when the lights dim early.

On Sunday, Love Island USA fans were stunned when contestant Cierra Ortega exited the villa “due to a personal situation,” leaving Nic Vansteenberghe suddenly single. But drama breeds opportunity, and Nic didn’t waste a second. During the recoupling ceremony, Florida native Olandria Carthen picked Nic, lighting up the episode with her heartfelt speech. “He’s always expressed how much he’s valued me, valued our bond,” she shared, before gushing, “He has a crazy, quirky personality. I’ve loved him from the moment I met him. I’m super excited to spend the rest of my days with this person.”

But the celebration didn’t stop there. Gauff took her hype straight to social media, posting with fire: “never back down, never give up! #NICOLANDRIA #LoveIslandUSA.” Off the court, she’s still a champion of passion.

Just hours ago, Coco Gauff lit up her IG stories with pure Gen-Z energy, posting a clip from what looked like a buzzing pub scene, quoting, “WE UPPPPPP #nicolandria4life.” The tennis star was fully locked into Love Island Season 7, and the moment her favorite couple, Nic and Olivia, made it official, the entire room erupted. Gauff, swept up in the madness, couldn’t hold back her joy, shouting, “This is my Super Bowl, and my team just won!”

The moment was electric, not just for the islanders, but for Gauff too. The tennis sensation, a long-time fan of the show, couldn’t hold back her excitement. She joined a watch party, screaming with joy as Olandria poured her heart out. Gauff let out a huge cheer for Nic during the emotional recoupling, fully invested in the villa’s love story.

But that wasn’t the only celebration Coco embraced this week. Two days earlier, she traded Centre Court tension for a peaceful escape back home. On July 4th, she shared a glimpse of her serene holiday in Delray Beach, Florida. The first IG story featured a calm ocean view, paired with the soft harmony of “Heaven is a Home”, reflecting Gauff’s much-needed decompression. In the next, firecrackers exploded above the water, backed by Lana Del Rey’s haunting rendition of “National Anthem”.

And while heartbreak lingered from her early Wimbledon exit, Coco Gauff found healing in fireworks, sunshine, and a little reality TV romance. Even champions need a reset, and Coco’s was as loud, bright, and full of heart as ever.

Coco Gauff reflects on Wimbledon loss without regret

Coco Gauff’s dream of a Wimbledon crown took an unexpected detour, one paved with heartbreak and reflection. On July 2nd, the World No. 2 fell to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska in a first-round stunner, halting her pursuit of the elusive “Channel Slam” after her resounding triumph at Roland Garros just weeks ago. She had come in hot, expectations sky-high, especially after toppling Aryna Sabalenka in Paris. But the grass told a different story.

Just a week earlier, Gauff was bounced out of Berlin by Wang Xinyu. Still, her spirit was vibrant. She told USA TODAY Sports, “Mentally I’m really excited. Every time I come on these grounds, I get so inspired, so I’m really excited.” But that inspiration didn’t translate into execution. The Venus Rosewater Dish would have to wait.

However, after her exit from Wimbledon, in her post-match press conference, Gauff didn’t mask the pain. “I’m trying to be positive. After the match, I definitely was struggling in the locker room. I don’t like losing,” she admitted. “I know my team is gonna tell me ‘you did well at Roland Garros. Don’t be so upset’. But I don’t really like losing. I feel a bit disappointed with how I showed up today.”

Statistically, it was a rough day: nine double faults, four breaks of serve, and an uneven rhythm in crunch time. Her exit joined the likes of Jessica Pegula and Zheng Qinwen in a surprising top-seed wipeout.

She reflected further on what could’ve been. “I could’ve been a bit better in those tough tiebreaker moments. Especially after Roland Garros, where I feel like I learned a lot in those tiebreakers,” Gauff said. “So yeah. Obviously I’m not gonna dwell on this too long, because I wanna do well at US Open.”

Now, with the grass season behind her and home soil ahead, Coco Gauff sets her sights on the US Open, not just to heal Wimbledon wounds, but to rewrite her story where it all began.