MATCH REPORT | 2024 China Open: All business for Jessica Pegula, makes winning return after US Open final defeat

Unlike some who played at the US Open especially over in Tokyo, Jessica Pegula hasn't fell fowl to an early defeat at the China Open in her return for the first time since losing the final to Aryna Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows.

Pegula had a tough opening assignment in Diane Parry who has the talent and game to cause the top names problems on her day especially if they can be caught out cold.

But aside from a pretty lengthy second set, it was all business from Pegula who has the tag of being the queen of consistency in the WTA and has shown that again in Beijing. Only Iga Swiatek has more wins on hard courts in the past four years and she will certainly be a favourite for the title this week.

Emma Navarro in particular struggled earlier today and was defeated well by Shuai Zhang who hasn't been able to buy a win for the past two years. But Pegula set about her business to not join her out early. She broke immediately to set the tone and survived break chances from the Frenchwoman. Pegula went 3-1 up from there and broke once more turning the tables on Parry who looked to have the game sewn up. But Pegula then emphatically held and broke again for the set.

The second set was a comeback effort from Pegula though who went 3-1 down early on and had to come back to lead 4-3. She narrowly kept the lead and they both held serve to set up a nervy conclusion. But in the tie-break, Pegula showed that she could outlast Parry and won through 7-4. Next up is Veronika Kudermetova with Paula Badosa perhaps in the fourth round who faces the winner of Rebeka Sramkova and Ekaterina Alexandrova. A good start though from the American No.1.