Emma Raducanu’s Narrow Defeat at the 2025 China Open
In a gripping encounter at the 2025 China Open, tennis star Emma Raducanu just fell short of a major milestone in her career, failing to capitalize on three match points against American player Jessica Pegula. Showing remarkable form in recent tournaments, Raducanu is on the verge of breaking back into the Top 30 of the WTA Rankings—an achievement that would secure her seeding in upcoming Grand Slam and WTA 1000 events.
Recent Performances and Challenges
The British player had recently showcased her potential with a strong performance in Cincinnati, raising hopes for her consistency. However, her initial optimism was dampened by disappointing results in her subsequent tournaments. At the Korea Open in Seoul, she faced a similar situation where she was unable to convert match points against Barbora Krejcikova, leading to her exit from the competition.
Match Highlights Against Pegula
In Beijing, the third-round match against the world’s seventh-ranked Pegula mirrored her recent struggles. Forming a solid opening set, Raducanu displayed resilience by saving four of five break points and claiming two breaks herself to take the set 6-3. She even raced to a 3-0 lead early on, although Pegula rallied to close the gap.
Despite facing pressure, Raducanu’s composure under fire was evident as she held her serve and clinched the first set decisively. The second set also started brightly for her, but she quickly lost her lead. Both players showcased their service prowess until the set was forced into a tiebreak.
Tiebreak Tension and Final Set Collapse
In a tense tiebreak, Raducanu initially surged ahead to 5-2 and had three opportunities to seal the victory at points 6-5, 8-7, and 9-8. Unfortunately, each opportunity slipped away, leading to a reminiscent crushing defeat as she lost the tiebreak 9-11.
This match was troublingly similar to her previous one with Krejcikova, which ended in a heart-wrenching loss after a commanding start.
Ultimately, Raducanu faced a complete collapse in the final set, failing to secure a single game against Pegula, who claimed a decisive 6-3, 6-7(9), 6-0 victory. With this loss, Raducanu now turns her attention to the upcoming Wuhan Open while Pegula advances to face Marta Kostyuk in the next round.
