Fifth seed Jessica Pegula showcased her resilience by saving three match points in a nail-biting second-set tiebreak, ultimately defeating 30th seed Emma Raducanu with a score of 3-6, 7-6(9), 6-0 to secure her place in the fourth round of the prestigious China Open in Beijing. This thrilling match lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes, highlighting the intense competition between the two talented players.
Match Highlights and Turning Points
Raducanu started strong, controlling the opening set and breaking early to establish a commanding 4-1 lead. However, the second set saw both players engaging in an early exchange of breaks, leading to a tense tiebreak. Raducanu initially led 5-2 in the tiebreak and had three opportunities to close out the set, but Pegula displayed remarkable composure, saving all three match points and clinching the breaker 11-9. Following this dramatic turn of events, Pegula dominated the final set, winning it without dropping a game.
This victory marks Pegula’s first win after being down match points since her stunning comeback in the 2024 Berlin final, where she saved five championship points against Anna Kalinskaya. Interestingly, in her next match after that title, Pegula faced a similar situation against Raducanu in the Eastbourne second round, where she lost after being ahead. Now, Pegula leads their head-to-head encounters 3-1, further establishing her competitive edge.
For Raducanu, the match was a continuation of her recent struggles with tiebreaks. This encounter marked the second consecutive week where she let three match points slip against a former Top 3 opponent. In Seoul, she similarly faltered in a second-set tiebreak against Barbora Krejcikova, losing 4-6, 7-6(10), 6-1. This loss contributes to a concerning trend for Raducanu, who has now dropped six of her last seven tiebreaks dating back to June.
With this result, Pegula advances to the last 16 in Beijing for the second consecutive year, where she will face 23rd seed Marta Kostyuk, who triumphed over qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Pegula holds a favorable 3-1 lead in their series, including a straight-sets victory in Miami earlier this year, setting the stage for another exciting clash.