China Open: Pegula beats Blinkova in three sets, faces Ostapenko in last 16

The Tokyo runner-up came from a set down to beat Anna Blinkova 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1 on Tuesday at the WTA 1000 Series event

Jessica Pegula at the 2023 Toray Pan Pacific Open

Tennis Majors

October 3, 2023

China Open •Third round • completed

See draw

J. PegulavsA. Blinkova

American Jessica Pegula, the No 4 seed, beat Anna Blinkova 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the last 16 of the China Open on Tuesday.

Pegula, ranked No 4 in the world and a finalist in Tokyo last week, needed two hours and six minutes for the win over the Russian and will face Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 13 seed, next.

The Tokyo finalist moves on in Beijing ➡️

No.4 seed @JPegula recovers from a set down to arrange a last-16 meeting with Ostapenko!#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/xmp6SekLiy
— wta (@WTA) October 3, 2023

Pegula leads Ostapenko 3-1 in career head-to-head

The American has a 3-1 lead over Ostapenko in career head-to-head. After splitting their first two meetings in 2015, Pegula has won their two most recent encounters – in 2021 and 2023 – both of which came in Doha.

The match will be a key one for Ostapenko in her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals. The Latvian is currently in 14th position in the Race to Cancun while Pegula has already secured her berth in the WTA Finals field.

In the previous round, Blinkova, ranked No 39, won against Croat Donna Vekic (6-3, 7-5).

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