Pegula edges Baptiste in nail-biting Wuhan Open clash
Jessica Pegula overcame a tense finish to defeat fellow American Hailey Baptiste in a hard-fought three-set battle at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday.
Sixth-seeded Pegula beat her fellow American 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (6) on her seventh match point to reach the third round, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
Pegula, who lost in the China Open semifinals last week, will next play ninth-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat American Ann Li 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Qualifier Kateřina Siniaková beat Maya Joint 6-3, 6-1 in another second-round match.
U.S. Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, No. 3 Coco Gauff and 11th-seeded Naomi Osaka were scheduled to play later Wednesday.
Top-ranked Sabalenka, who took a Greek holiday after her second consecutive win at Flushing Meadows, withdrew from last week's China Open, another WTA 1000-olve event.
“I feel good,” Sabalenka said on her arrival in Wuhan. “I just didn’t want to rush my body into the tournament. So I think we made the right decision to take extra time for recovery and for the preparation. Physically, I feel ready to go.”
Sabalenka has had an amazing run in Wuhan — her record is 17-0 while winning titles in 2018, 2019 and 2024.
On Tuesday, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, the runner-up at both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon this year, withdrew from the Wuhan tournament citing a left calf muscle injury after winning the China Open title.
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