Jessica Pegula continues to command attention. The relentless American has now triumphed in 13 deciding-set matches in 2025, her latest victory coming over compatriot Hailey Baptiste in three hard-fought sets on Wednesday at the Wuhan Open. And just when it seems her numbers can’t climb higher, Pegula strikes again, this time etching her name into yet another record that reinforces her unshakable dominance.

Jessica Pegula once again proved why she’s the heartbeat of American tennis. On Thursday, the 31-year-old staged another comeback masterclass, recovering from an early service break in the third set to defeat Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 and march into the Wuhan Open quarterfinals. The win came barely 24 hours after she survived a marathon against fellow American Hailey Baptiste, needing seven match points to finally close it out.

With this latest triumph, Pegula, at 31 years and 224 days, now stands as the oldest player to reach the quarterfinals at both the Beijing and Wuhan tournaments in the same season. The previous record belonged to Petra Kvitová, who achieved the feat at 29 years and 206 days. Records keep falling, and Pegula continues to rewrite her own narrative.

For the sixth consecutive match, Jessica Pegula was dragged into a deciding set, and for the fifth time, she emerged victorious. The American dug deep after falling behind 5-2 in the opening set, turning the tide with trademark grit and resilience. In a two-hour, six-minute battle under the closed roof, she showcased not just endurance but adaptability, clinching her first-ever Wuhan Open quarterfinal berth while improving her H2H against Alexandrova to 3-3.

“I can’t remember the last time I played two sets,” Pegula said with a smile after her win. “But I’ve been competing really hard and I’ve been playing a lot of really good players. It was different conditions today with the roof closed and I think it took us a little while to get adjusted, but then I felt like it was a really high level there for the rest of the match. I’m just excited I was able to get over the finish line.”

Every step forward for Pegula in Wuhan now carries higher stakes. Her next challenge will come against the winner of Iva Jovic and Katerina Siniakova, as she eyes a coveted spot at the WTA Finals.

Each match is more than just a battle; it’s a statement. Pegula’s precision, perseverance, and poise continue to define her remarkable run, as she stands tall among America’s current crop of elite female tennis stars, boasting four players in the WTA top 10, ten in the top 50, and seventeen in the top 100.

Jessica Pegula’s pursuit of WTA Finals glory continues

With the final WTA 1000 event underway, Jessica Pegula remains firmly in the hunt for Riyadh. The American, who recently lost to Linda Noskova at the China Open semis, has delivered a strong 2025 season: three titles (Bad Homburg, Charleston, Austin) and two runner-up finishes (Miami and Adelaide), but qualification for the WTA Finals still hangs in the balance. With only three spots left, Wuhan presents her with a defining chance to extend her run of consistency.

Currently ranked fifth in the Race to Riyadh with 4,598 points, Pegula stands just one step away from sealing her ticket. Yet the road ahead is anything but simple. She must reach at least the semifinals to secure her place among the elite eight.

Elena Rybakina (3,806), Jasmine Paolini (3,741), and Ekaterina Alexandrova (3,136) remain her closest chasers, each eyeing the same golden ticket. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, sitting at 4,309 points, continues to hover as a decisive threat.

But in a twist of fate, Andreeva’s shock defeat to Laura Siegemund in a grueling 7-6(4), 3-6, 3-6 battle might just tilt the scales in Pegula’s favor. Every match, every set now carries enormous weight.

As the Wuhan Open unfolds, the question lingers: can Jessica Pegula’s poise and perseverance carry her into Riyadh, or will pressure rewrite her story?