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Pegula fends off crumbling Raducanu at China Open
The Guardian
|September 30, 2025
For the better part of two hours at the China Open against one of the toughest possible opponents, Emma Raducanu’s varied, steadily improving game was in full flow. She seemed to be moving confidently towards one of the most impressive wins of her career.
When it was time to close out victory against the world No 7, Jessica Pegula, however, Raducanu simply crumbled under pressure. After her positive start, Raducanu’s time in Beijing ended in a catastrophic loss as she failed to convert three match points before losing 3-6, 7-6 (9), 6-0 to Pegula in the third round.
This defeat is a second consecutive loss after holding multiple match points. Raducanu’s loss to the two-time grand slam champion Barbora Krejcikova 12 days ago in Seoul was eerily similar - the 22-year-old held two match points before losing 4-6, 7-6 (10), 6-1.
This story is from the September 30, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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