Jessica Pegula squandered three match points and lost to Jelena Ostapenko in three sets at the Wuhan Open on Wednesday in the American’s first match in more than a month.
Ostapenko won 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-3 in an unlikely last-32 comeback that included saving match points on three occasions in the second set against the second-seeded Pegula, who hadn’t played since losing in the U.S. Open semifinals.
Pegula, a finalist in Wuhan last year, took an extended break, missing events in Singapore and Beijing, owing to the busy summer schedule taking a physical toll on her.
World No. 9 Iga Swiatek had a much easier time of it, advancing to the round of 16 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Magdalena Frech.
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Swiatek next faces either Ashlyn Krueger or Lanlana Tararudee. She’s in the same bracket as top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka, who is facing Ann Li later in the day in a match to reach the final 16.
(With inputs from AP)
Published on Oct 14, 2026
