Emma Raducanu Adopts Unusual Tactic as Brit Suffers Huge Collapse at China Open
Emma Raducanu’s promising run at the 2025 China Open came to a heartbreaking end on September 29, as the British No. 1 squandered three match points and endured a dramatic third-set collapse against Jessica Pegula in their third-round clash. The 22-year-old, who had been experimenting with an unusual racket-switching tactic amid her serve improvements, led comfortably before unraveling in a 3-6, 7-6(11-9), 6-0 defeat on the Lotus Court in Beijing. This loss extends Raducanu’s top-10 drought to nine straight matches, despite flashes of brilliance that had fans buzzing about her resurgence.
The Match: A Tale of Two Halves
The WTA 1000 encounter lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes, showcasing Raducanu’s aggressive baseline play early on. She broke Pegula twice in the opener, clinching it 6-3 with precise returns and a revamped serve under new coach Francisco Roig. The second set intensified, with Raducanu earning three match points in a marathon tiebreak (at 6-5, 7-6, and 9-8). Pegula, the world No. 5 and US Open semi-finalist, saved them with clutch backhand winners and forced a Raducanu double fault on the final one to steal the set 11-9. The decider was a rout—Raducanu, visibly deflated, won zero games as Pegula’s consistency overwhelmed her, marking the Brit’s second straight tournament squandering three match points (after Seoul vs. Krejcikova).
Stats highlighted Raducanu’s edge in winners (28-22) but her 38 unforced errors proved costly against Pegula’s steadier 24. Head-to-head now favors Pegula 3-1, all on hard courts.
The Unusual Tactic: Racket Experimentation
Amid her collapse, Raducanu adopted an unconventional approach by switching rackets based on the situation—using one with different string tension for serving and another for returns, particularly evident in the second set. This tactic, aimed at optimizing her revamped serve (which she credited to Roig’s tweaks), showed promise in lengthy rallies where she “prevailed in many” with athleticism and court craft. However, it couldn’t prevent the mental and physical dip, as a key double fault at 5-4 in the second set shifted momentum. Analysts noted this as a sign of her ongoing experimentation amid a comeback year, but it drew mixed reactions for potentially disrupting rhythm during pressure points.
Key Moments and the Collapse
Raducanu’s downfall echoed her career’s boom-bust pattern—injuries and form slumps since her 2021 US Open triumph. She started strong, breaking Pegula early, but the tiebreak exposed vulnerabilities: Pegula’s “spectacular cross-court lasers” on match points turned the tide. The third-set bagel (6-0) was her most lopsided since early 2024, with 22 unforced errors sealing the “huge collapse.”
| Set | Score | Key Highlight |
|—–|——–|—————|
| 1st | 6-3 (Raducanu) | Breaks Pegula twice; strong serving at 75% first-serve points won. |
| 2nd | 7-6(11-9) (Pegula) | Marathon tiebreak; Raducanu squanders three match points with double fault on final one. |
| 3rd | 6-0 (Pegula) | Total collapse; Raducanu wins zero games, commits 22 unforced errors. |
Post-Match Quotes: Luck and Fight
Pegula reflected humbly: “That was a crazy match… I got myself back into the tiebreak. When she hit the double fault, I knew I was playing well… To be honest, I think I got a little lucky on those two backhand winners, but I just tried to keep fighting.” Raducanu, post-loss, emphasized progress: “I showed a lot of good things today… but it’s tough when you can’t close it out.” Analysts praised her movement but lamented the mental fragility.
Fan Reactions: Heartbreak and Hope
Social media erupted with empathy for Raducanu’s grit amid the collapse. On X, @raducanubrasil lamented: “Jessica Pegula defeated Emma Raducanu… in the third round of the China Open.” @thor132925 called it “disappointing,” noting the unconverted match points. Official @ChinaOpen hailed Pegula’s rally: “Jessica Pegula rallies past Emma Raducanu… to advance!” Others, like @TimesSport, described her as “unraveling again,” sparking debates on her top-10 drought. Fans remain optimistic, citing her top-30 return as a milestone.
Looking Ahead: Lessons for 2026
Despite the setback, Raducanu’s Beijing points solidify her provisional No. 29 ranking—her highest since 2022—and position her for a seeded Australian Open spot. Pegula advances to face Marta Kostyuk in the last 16, eyeing WTA Finals qualification. For Raducanu, the focus shifts to closing out big matches; at 22, with coach Roig and trainer Yutaka Nakamura, her potential remains sky-high amid a breakthrough 2025 (27 wins). This collapse, while painful, could fuel her push for top-20 by year-end.
