Video - the three match points magnificently saved by Jessica Pegula in Beijing
In an incredible turnaround, Jessica Pegula withstood three match points to overturn Emma Raducanu in a duel worthy of a thriller.
The audience holds its breath. Emma Raducanu serves for the match, victory almost assured. And yet, Jessica Pegula triggers an eruption of fire: two backhand winners, an aggressive forehand, and a shaken Raducanu.
The match starts with shared momentum: Raducanu imposes her rhythm in the first set. Before a response from Pegula in the next. But the balance shifts when the Brit gets three consecutive opportunities to close it out in the tie-break.
1st match point: Raducanu leads 6-5 in the tie-break and makes an aggressive return. But Pegula responds with a beautiful down-the-line backhand to level at six all.
2nd match point: still in this tie-break, in a defensive position, the American executes an exceptional down-the-line backhand passing shot to equalize once again at 8-8.
3rd match point: After several powerful baseline exchanges and a powerful crosscourt shot from the American, Raducanu cracks again (9-9), before seeing her opponent win the set (11-9).
A difficult equalizer to swallow for the 2021 US Open champion, who ends up collapsing in the third and final set: 3-6, 7-6, 6-0. A scenario that thus recalls her match against Krejčíková in Seoul 10 days ago (4-6, 7-6, 6-1).
Pékin 
