3 shocking results from Day 7 of China Open 2024 ft. Jessica Pegula getting stunned
Jessica Pegula was among the notable casualties on Day 7 of China Open 2024. Four women's singles fourth-round matches and the men's singles semifinals took place, among other fixtures.
In the men's singles event, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz set up their first meeting in a final since the 2022 Croatia Open. While Sinner ended Mongolian Yunchaokete Bu's dream run by beating him 6-3, 7-6(3), Alcaraz defeated Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3.
In the women's singles event, fourth seed Coco Gauff booked her place in the quarterfinals of the China Open after her fourth-round opponent Naomi Osaka retired due to injury after the second set.
However, there were a few matches in Beijing where highly favored players were shown the door by relatively unheralded opponents. On that note, let's take a look at some of the shocking results from Day 7 of China Open 2024.
#3 Magdalena Frech
Twenty-third seed Magdalena Frech's China Open run came to an end in the fourth round. She made it that far after hard-fought wins over Alycia Parks and 12th seed Diana Shnaider, beating Shnaider despite being bageled in the opening set.
In the fourth round, the Pole faced Zhang Shuai, who entered the WTA 1000 event with a 24-match losing streak before beating McCartney Kessler, sixth seed Emma Navarro and Greet Minnen.
Zhang and Frech exchanged breaks in the first five games before the Chinese broke Frech in the final game to take the set 6-4. The World No. 595 dominated the second set, winning it 6-2 to book her place in the quarterfinals of the China Open for the third time.
Zhang will face Paula Badosa, with the winner of the match facing Coco Gauff or Yuliia Starodubtseva in the semifinals.
#2 Anna Kalinskaya
Tenth seed Anna Kalinskaya booked her place in the fourth round of the China Open after ousting Americans Hailey Baptiste and Peyton Stearns (who retired during the third set). The Russian faced Ukrainian qualifier Yuliia Starodubtseva, who triumphed over Laura Siegemund, 27th seed Katerina Siniakova and Elina Avanesyan in the main draw.
Kalinskaya's performances in 2024 made her the favorite to win on Lotus Court, but the Ukrainian won the opening set 7-5 after making a decisive break in the 12th game. Starodubtseva won 29 of 44 points in the second set and bageled the Russian to continue her dream run and reach her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
The 24-year-old has played five matches in Beijing but is yet to drop a set. She will face Coco Gauff in the last eight.
#1 Jessica Pegula
Second seed Jessica Pegula entered the China Open after a hattrick of finals at the Canadian Open (which she won), the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. The American booked her place in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event after wins over Diane Parry and Veronika Kudermetova.
Jessica Pegula faced 15th seed Paula Badosa, who registered straight-set wins over Viktoriya Tomova and Rebecca Sramkova. While Badosa has been resurgent lately, the World No. 3 entered the match as the heavy favorite to win.
Jessica Pegula started well, breaking Badosa in the third game, but the Spaniard bounced back and won the set 6-4. Badosa won 25 of 34 points to register a 6-4, 6-0 win and book her place in the quarterfinals of the China Open. It was her first win over the American after three losses.
After defeating Jessica Pegula, Paula Badosa will next take on Zhang Shuai, with the winner taking on Coco Gauff or Yuliia Starodubtseva in the semifinals of the China Open.