India, July 1 -- Elisabetta Cocciaretto was jokingly apologetic about being too philosophical in her post-match speech. Why wouldn't she be?

Last year around this time, the Italian with a penchant for grass was hoping for a Wimbledon to savour as a top-50 player having made her deepest entry in a Slam at the French Open (fourth round). She instead lay in a hospital with a long-standing bout of pneumonia.

This year, she did make it to Wimbledon after all, but as a player who had fallen out of the top 100 after kicking off 2024 with three consecutive first-round exits. In her opening act at the All England Club, though, she knocked out third seed Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-3 in 58 minutes.

"You have to accept what life gives you," she said, b...