Jessica Pegula overcame three match points to defeat Emma Raducanu 6-3, 6-7 (9-11), 6-0 at the China Open in Beijing, extending Raducanu’s recent struggles to close out matches.
The loss marks the second time this month Raducanu has been unable to convert match points, following a similar result against Barbora Krejcikova.The result is a setback for the British number one’s end-of-season push and chances to climb the WTA rankings, while Pegula advances to the round of 16.
Raducanu, ranked 32nd in the world, claimed the first set against seventh-ranked Pegula before a fiercely contested second. The match,lasting two hours and 21 minutes,saw a visible display of frustration from Pegula,who shouted and threw her racquet during the fifth game.
Pegula successfully saved two break points and then rallied in a dramatic tie-break, saving all three of Raducanu’s match points – two with decisive backhand winners and one on Raducanu’s serve - before ultimately dominating the final set.
“It was a crazy match,” Pegula said after the win. She will next face Marta Kostyuk in the last 16, after Kostyuk defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-2.
“That was really intense. I got myself back into the tie-break and just wanted to keep the pressure on.”
“To be honest, I think I got a little bit lucky on two of those where I hit those two backhand winners but, other than that I just tried to keep fighting for as long as I could.”
