Raducanu fails to take match points in Pegula defeat

In a close-fought last-32 tie at the China Open, Emma Raducanu again lost three match points to Jessica Pegula, who had defeated her 6-3, 7-11, 6-0.

In a match that lasted two hours and 21 minutes, the British number one faded in a similar fashion to Barbora Krejcikova earlier this month.

Sonay Kartal, a fellow Briton, defeated Maya Joint in Beijing to advance to the round of 16.

The 32-ranked American, who is currently 32 in the world, faced world number seven Pegula in the first set, and the second-ranked American, who yelled “I’m sorry,” threw her racquet to the floor in the fifth game.

Pegula then won the third set, dominating in the third set, where she saved three match points, two of which were scored on Raducanu’s serve, before a dramatic tie-break in which she scored twice.

After defeating Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-4, 6-2, Pegula said, “It was a crazy match.” She will next face Marta Kostyuk in the last 16.

“That was very intense. I re-engaged in the tie-break and only wanted to maintain the pressure.

Kartal won the China Open’s last 16 by beating Joint with a strong straight sets victory.

The British number four won 6-3, 6-2, and 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in one hour and a half against the world number 36.

Kartal, who had defeated Alycia Parks and Daria Kasatkina to advance to the third round, jumped straight to the block and overcame Joint with a 4-0 lead.

Joint eventually got into the game and faced a greater challenge, but the Briton held her and served out the first set.

Joint, who is ranked 81st in the world, broke in the third and seventh games of the second set before retiring for the match, as Kartal’s forehand proved too much.

In the following round, she will face Mirra Andreeva, the fourth-ranked player, who defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6 6-1.