Raducanu v Pegula live: China Open result as British No 1 misses match points in sickening defeat
Raducanu suffered another heartbreaking defeat after holding match points to exit the China Open, with Pegula winning 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0
Emma Raducanu missed match points for the second week in a row before crumbling to an agonising defeat to Jessica Pegula at the China Open.
Raducanu looked to be on her way to claiming her best win in six months as she led 5-2 in the second set tiebreak, having played superbly to take the first set against the World No 7 in Beijing.
The British No 1 had three separate chances to win the match in the tiebreak but could not take them as Pegula stayed alive and forced the third. From there, Raducanu’s energy dropped and Pegula raced away with the match, winning 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0.
To add to Raducanu’s heartbreak, the 22-year-old also suffered a remarkably similar defeat to Barbora Krejcikova in the Korea Open last week, losing in three sets to the former Wimbledon champion after having two match points in the second-set tiebreak.
The fight from Raducanu rapidly faded away in the third and her losing streak against the best players in the world also continued. She has now lost nine matches in a row against top-10 opponents, a run that stretches back to her Miami Open quarter-final defeat to Pegula in March.
Jannik Sinner made to ‘fight’ as he sets up Alex de Minaur clash at China Open
Jannik Sinner showed his battling qualities to reach the China Open semi-finals with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, as the Italian stepped up his bid to narrow the gap on world number one Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner lost the top ranking after surrendering his US Open crown to the Spaniard this month but has responded well to the setback in Beijing, claiming a seventh semi-final spot in the eight tournaments he has played this year.
Jannik Sinner made to ‘fight’ as he sets up Alex de Minaur clash at China Open
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slow start to defeat Casper Ruud and reach Japan Open final
World number one Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a slow start to beat Casper Ruud 3-6 6-3 6-4 and reach the Japan Open final where he will meet second seed Taylor Fritz with the chance to claim his eighth title of the year.
Alcaraz will also be seeking revenge in Tuesday's clash in Tokyo after a shock defeat by Fritz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco this month, his first loss to the American in four career meetings.
Carlos Alcaraz overcomes slow start to defeat Casper Ruud and reach Japan Open final
Emma Raducanu suffers heartbreaking China Open defeat as familiar pattern emerges
Emma Raducanu spurned match points for the second week in a row as the British No 1 fell to a three-set defeat to Jessica Pegula at the China Open in Beijing.
Raducanu looked to be surging to an impressive win over the World No 7 Pegula as she led 5-2 in the second-set tiebreak, having taken the first set with some eye-catching play.
But mistakes from the 22-year-old opened the door for Pegula to stay alive and she could not take any of her three match points, as the fifth seed eventually prevailed 11-9 to force the decider.
From there, the American won six games in a row to race to the finish line and wrap up a battling 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0 win in two hours and 23 minutes.
Emma Raducanu suffers heartbreaking China Open defeat as familiar pattern emerges
Raducanu's losing run against top-10 opponents continues
That’s now nine defeats in a row for Raducanu against top-10 players. She is getting closer, but this was a golden opportunity to record a big win today and it slipped through her fingers.
vs Pegula (7), China Open, 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0
vs Rybakina (10), US Open, 1-6 1-2
vs Sabalenka (1), Cincinnati, 6-7 6-3 6-7
vs Anisimova (7), Montreal, 2-6 1-6
vs Sabalenka (1), Wimbledon, 6-7 4-6
vs Zheng (5), Queens, 2-6, 4-6
vs Swiatek (5), French Open, 1-6 2-6
vs Gauff (2), Italian Open, 1-6 2-6
vs Pegula (4), Miami Open, 4-6 7-6 2-6
vs Navarro (8), Miami Open, 7-6 2-6 7-6
vs Swiatek (2), Australian Open, 1-6 0-6
Jessica Pegula reacts to victory
“That was a crazy match,” says Jessica Pegula after saving those three match points to reach the last-16 of the China Open.
“It was a lot of fun. That was really intense but I got myself back into the tiebreak. When she hit the double-fault I knew I was playing well and it was right there. I got a bit lucky when I hit the backhand winners. But I just tried to keep fighting for as long as I could.”
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
An absolute heartbreaker.
Raducanu had three match points in the second-set tiebreak but the fight vanished after Pegula stayed alive to force the third set.
The American wraps up the match by winning the third-set in rapid fashion. Raducanu saved the first match point as she put all of her frustration into a backhand winner.
But Raducanu then made a couple of big misses and Pegula wraps up a gutsy win.
But it’s a sickener for Raducanu, who quickly heads off court.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-7 0-5 Jessica Pegula
A flash from Raducanu as she lands a forehand winner but Pegula is too solid in the next rally and a miss from Raducanu brings up break point.
Raducanu goes wide on the forehand and Pegula gets the third break of serve.
She’ll serve for the match next. Ouch.
*Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-7 0-4 Jessica Pegula
Raducanu goes for a big forehand return but hits it long.
Pegula slams an ace to move 4-0 ahead. This match has completely shifted.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-7 0-3 Jessica Pegula*
The Beijing crowd looks to respond as Raducanu wins a point with a forehand winner.
But the energy has drained out of Raducanu and she slumps back to her set after going a double-break down in the third.
This is tough.
*Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-7 0-2 Jessica Pegula
Pegula has also raised her level and is playing some superb stuff to start the third set. With power and touch, she’s mixing it up to brush Raducanu aside.
A crunching backhand winner moves Pegula 2-0 up in the third.
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