MATCH REPORT | 2024 Wuhan Open: No.2 seed Jessica Pegula straight sets slump to Wang Xinyu
Jessica Pegula was eliminated from the 2024 Wuhan Open after a second defeat to rising Chinese star Wang Xinyu. Wang delivered an impressive performance, showcasing her talent by defeating the US Open finalist. This victory marks a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
Wang Xinyu secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jessica Pegula to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, delighting her home crowd. This marks her second top 10 win, following impressive victories against Caroline Dolehide and Lucia Bronzetti in earlier rounds. Wang’s performance continues to highlight her rising status in the tennis world.
For Jessica Pegula, this loss is disappointing following her performance at the US Open. After a previous defeat to Paula Badosa in the Round of 16, she did manage to defeat Anastasia Potapova this week but ultimately fell to the home favorite, Wang Xinyu. Pegula will now shift her focus to the upcoming events in Japan as she continues the Asian hard court swing.
Wang Xinyu secured her victory in just over an hour and a half and will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova, with the draw opening up significantly. Anna Kalinskaya and Barbora Krejcikova’s early exits allowed Alexandrova to advance easily, as she defeated Hailey Baptiste, who had previously eliminated the Wimbledon champion. This sets up an intriguing match in the quarter-finals.
In the first set, Wang Xinyu capitalized on crucial moments, breaking Pegula to take a 3-1 lead. Despite Pegula’s resilience at 3-2, she ultimately lost her serve, allowing Xinyu to close out the set strongly.The second set turned into a tactical battle, with Pegula fending off break points at 1-1 and 3-3. Although Xinyu seemed poised to take control at 5-3, Pegula fought back to threaten a tie-break. However, Xinyu managed to break again, sealing the match when it looked like it might head to 6-6.
