Emma Raducanu spurned match points for the second week in a row as the British No 1 fell to a three-set defeat to Jessica Pegula at the China Open in Beijing.

Raducanu looked to be surging to an impressive win over the World No 7 Pegula as she led 5-2 in the second-set tiebreak, having taken the first set with some eye-catching play.

But mistakes from the 22-year-old opened the door for Pegula to stay alive and she could not take any of her three match points, as the fifth seed eventually prevailed 11-9 to force the decider.

From there, the American won six games in a row to race to the finish line and wrap up a battling 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0 win in two hours and 23 minutes.

That’s now nine defeats in a row for Raducanu against top-10 players. She is getting closer, but this was a golden opportunity to record a big win today and it slipped through her fingers.

vs Pegula (7), China Open, 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 6-0

vs Rybakina (10), US Open, 1-6 1-2

vs Sabalenka (1), Cincinnati, 6-7 6-3 6-7

vs Anisimova (7), Montreal, 2-6 1-6

vs Sabalenka (1), Wimbledon, 6-7 4-6

vs Zheng (5), Queens, 2-6, 4-6

vs Swiatek (5), French Open, 1-6 2-6

vs Gauff (2), Italian Open, 1-6 2-6

vs Pegula (4), Miami Open, 4-6 7-6 2-6

vs Navarro (8), Miami Open, 7-6 2-6 7-6

vs Swiatek (2), Australian Open, 1-6 0-6

“That was a crazy match,” says Jessica Pegula after saving those three match points to reach the last-16 of the China Open.

“It was a lot of fun. That was really intense but I got myself back into the tiebreak. When she hit the double-fault I knew I was playing well and it was right there. I got a bit lucky when I hit the backhand winners. But I just tried to keep fighting for as long as I could.”

An absolute heartbreaker.

Raducanu had three match points in the second-set tiebreak but the fight vanished after Pegula stayed alive to force the third set.

The American wraps up the match by winning the third-set in rapid fashion. Raducanu saved the first match point as she put all of her frustration into a backhand winner.

But Raducanu then made a couple of big misses and Pegula wraps up a gutsy win.

But it’s a sickener for Raducanu, who quickly heads off court.

A flash from Raducanu as she lands a forehand winner but Pegula is too solid in the next rally and a miss from Raducanu brings up break point.

Raducanu goes wide on the forehand and Pegula gets the third break of serve.

She’ll serve for the match next. Ouch.

Raducanu goes for a big forehand return but hits it long.

Pegula slams an ace to move 4-0 ahead. This match has completely shifted.

The Beijing crowd looks to respond as Raducanu wins a point with a forehand winner.

But the energy has drained out of Raducanu and she slumps back to her set after going a double-break down in the third.

Pegula has also raised her level and is playing some superb stuff to start the third set. With power and touch, she’s mixing it up to brush Raducanu aside.

A crunching backhand winner moves Pegula 2-0 up in the third.

Oh heck. Raducanu comes out to serve to start the second set but faces 0-30 and then makes a double-fault.

Three break points for Pegula: Raducanu saves the first two, as she puts away the volley at the net.

Raducanu is not aggressive enough in the rally and Pegula changes it up with the drop shot, leaving Raducanu stranded.

Not the start she needed.

How can Raducanu recover from this? She fell away against Krejcikova in the third set last week, having also spurned match points in the second-set tiebreak.

Can she rally after playing some superb tennis until this point?