Jessica Pegula and Hailey Baptiste faced off for the first time in over three years at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, producing a nail-biting match that lasted nearly three hours. Pegula, the No. 6 seed, ultimately prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (6) in 2 hours and 55 minutes, surviving seven match points to reach the third round for the second consecutive year.
A Wild Ride from Start to Finish
Pegula came out strong in her first match since a heartbreaking semifinal loss to Linda Noskova in Beijing. She broke Baptiste in the opening game, jumped to a 2-0 lead, and extended to 4-1 before Baptiste began her comeback. Pegula captured the first set 6-4 after a gritty performance, saving multiple break points along the way.
The momentum swung in the second set as Baptiste broke twice, racing to a 5-2 lead. Pegula fought back, narrowing the gap to 5-4, but Baptiste held her nerve to take the set 6-4.
With Wuhan’s heat rule in effect, the players opted to continue straight into the decider, producing a tense final set. Pegula ultimately clinched the match in a 7-6 (6) tiebreak, demonstrating her resilience under pressure.
Pegula Reflects on Her Win
“I don’t really know what to say about that match. It’s been brutal. I had match points, and then she started playing well. I think I just got a little tentative, and that’s all it takes sometimes for someone to come back,” Pegula said. “I’m really proud of myself for how I held it together, because I easily could’ve just collapsed. But I held tough, so yeah, that was a wild ride.”
Next Up: Ekaterina Alexandrova Pegula will face No. 9 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, who recently defeated Ann Li in the second round. With her confidence boosted by this marathon win, Pegula remains firmly in contention for a strong finish at the Wuhan Open.