Jessica Pegula produced a stunning fightback to defeat Emma Raducanu 4-6, 7-6(9), 6-0 and book a fourth-round place at the China Open 2025. The American battled through intense pressure, saving three match points before dominating the final set. The British No. 1, will rue missed chances in a match she once controlled.
Raducanu Seizes Early Advantage but Misses Key Opportunities
Emma Raducanu started the contest confidently, using her serve and precision from the baseline to win the opening set 6-4. Her aggressive play unsettled Pegula, who struggled to find rhythm early on. The Brit maintained composure in the second set, holding serve consistently to push the battle into a tie-break.
But that is where momentum shifted. Raducanu earned three match points yet failed to convert. Pegula stayed composed under pressure, producing timely backhand winners — including a spectacular one down the line with Raducanu at the net — to snatch the set 7-6(9).
Pegula’s Dominance Seals a One-Sided Final Set
Once Jessica Pegula levelled the match, her confidence surged. She dictated rallies, attacked relentlessly, and denied Raducanu any foothold in the decider. The Brit, unable to recover from the tie-break heartbreak, did not win a single game as Pegula closed the match 6-0.
Reflecting on the dramatic turnaround, Pegula said: “That was really intense, but I got myself back into the tie break, and just wanted to keep the pressure on. And when she hit the double fault, I knew I was still playing some good tennis, it was right there, it was really, really close.”
“To be honest, I got a little lucky on two of those where I hit the two backhand winners, but other than that, I just tried to keep fighting as long as I could.”
Familiar Frustration for Raducanu
The defeat adds to a growing list of near misses for Raducanu. Earlier this month in Seoul, she also won the first set against Barbora Krejcikova, missed match points in a second-set tie-break, and faded in the final set.
This repeat pattern underlines a pressing challenge: finishing matches after strong starts remains a major hurdle.
What Lies Ahead
Pegula described the contest as a “crazy match” and now turns her focus to a fourth-round showdown with Marta Kostyuk. Raducanu, meanwhile, must regroup and address the late-match lapses that continue to haunt her in key moments.
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