'That was a wild ride': Jessica Pegula prevails after seven match points and three hours in Wuhan thriller

Jessica Pegula survived an exhausting three-hour battle against fellow American Hailey Baptiste after dispatching her in the first match at the Wuhan Open 1000 event 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8). Despite the matchup favouring the two-time US Open finalist, Baptiste put up a battle, saving six match points before losing in a tense third-set tiebreak.

Pegula, 31, entered the match seeking her third straight win over Baptiste, who was chasing her first victory in their head-to-head encounters. What followed was a rollercoaster contest that showcased the mental and physical resilience of both players. Pegula held match points in the deciding set but saw them slip away one after another as Baptiste refused to fold.

Pegula smooth sailing in first set

Jessica Pegula claimed the opening set 6-4 after 49 minutes of tightly contested tennis, using her experience to outlast a spirited start from Hailey Baptiste. Though Pegula’s first serve percentage was a modest 50% compared to Baptiste’s 67%, her superior consistency on key points and dominance in second-serve exchanges ultimately tilted the set in her favour. Pegula managed to get up to a double break leading 4-1, and even though Baptiste got one break back to make it 4-3, the number six seed closed out the set 6-4.

Baptiste battles back 

After losing the opener, Hailey Baptiste roared back to take the second set 6-4 in 53 minutes, showing impressive composure and a marked shift in tactical execution. She won 65% of her first-serve points (11/17) and improved on her second serve, using placement rather than power to keep Pegula guessing. Meanwhile, Pegula’s second serve faltered, she won just 23% (3/13) of those points, allowing Baptiste to attack returns and seize early breaks.

The 23-year-old stormed to a 3-0 lead, fending off early pressure and refusing to yield, before holding off a late Pegula fightback where she broke back to make it 5-4 on Pegula's serve. This tenth game ended up becoming a marathon where there were five deuces, three chances for Jessica to close it out, but Baptiste took her second set point to leave it to a deciding third set.

Pegula outlasts Baptiste in decider

While Baptiste left everything on court, Pegula’s experience in closing out tight matches ultimately tipped the scales. Statistically, the two were almost inseparable, equal points won, equal games held, equal breaks. Yet the finer margins of second-serve reliability, double faults, and clutch composure distinguished the world No. 6 from her challenger.

Jessica Pegula ultimately prevailed 8-6 in the third set tiebreak, but Hailey Baptiste pushed her compatriot to the brink in a battle defined by small percentages and mental fortitude rather than outright dominance.

Match Statistics Baptiste vs. Pegula

Post-match Pegula quotes

After the match mostly exhausted, Pegula managed to string a few sentences together about her performance saying, "I don’t really know what to say about that match... It’s been brutal. You know, 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. So, I mean, I’m really proud of myself for how I held it together, because I think I easily could’ve just collapsed. But I held tough, so yeah, that was a wild ride.".

Pegula’s next test will come against Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated another American, Ann Li, earlier in the day. The two have faced off five times, with Alexandrova leading the head-to-head 3-2. Heading into Wuhan’s third round, Pegula will seek to even their record, while Alexandrova aims to continue her strong 2025 form. Nevertheless, Pegula will want to continue her consistent Asian swing by making another run in Wuhan after a heartbreaking loss to Linda Noskova last week in the semifinals.