In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the 2025 Madrid Open, World No. 3 Jessica Pegula suffered a dramatic third-round collapse, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima on April 27, 2025, at the Caja Mágica. The American, a former finalist at the tournament and a favorite to contend for the title, saw her hopes unravel in a match where she struggled to find her rhythm against the unranked 23-year-old, who claimed her first-ever Top 10 victory. Pegula’s defeat, marked by a barrage of unforced errors and a failure to capitalize on early leads, not only ended her campaign but also dealt a significant blow to her aspirations of climbing to the top two in the WTA rankings.
Pegula entered the match riding high on a stellar 2025 season, having secured two titles in Austin and Charleston and reached finals in Adelaide and Miami. Her clay-court prowess, highlighted by her Charleston triumph, made her a formidable force on Madrid’s red dirt, where she had reached the final in 2022. “I’m feeling confident on clay this year,” Pegula had said after her second-round win over Eva Lys, a 6-2, 6-2 rout that showcased her tactical acumen and powerful groundstrokes. Against Uchijima, however, the third seed’s game faltered almost from the start. The Japanese player, making her Madrid debut, had already turned heads by upsetting 26th seed Ons Jabeur in the second round, and she brought that same fearless energy to the Manolo Santana court.
The first set saw Pegula take an early 2-0 lead, but her advantage quickly evaporated as Uchijima’s natural clay-court sliding and relentless defense exposed the American’s inconsistencies. Pegula’s 25 unforced errors across the match, including 15 in the first set alone, handed Uchijima the momentum. “It was a rough day out there,” Pegula admitted post-match, her frustration evident. “I couldn’t find my timing, and she played smart, making me work for every point.” Uchijima, ranked outside the Top 100, capitalized with precise groundstrokes and a stunning 80% first-serve point win rate, breaking Pegula twice to claim the set 6-3.
The second set offered little reprieve for Pegula. Despite flashes of her trademark backhand down the line, she struggled to counter Uchijima’s resilience. The Japanese player, who had battled through qualifiers in multiple tournaments this season, broke Pegula early and never looked back, racing to a 5-1 lead. Pegula’s body language grew increasingly dejected, and a final service break sealed her fate at 6-2. For Uchijima, the victory was a career-defining moment. “I’m over the moon,” she said, beaming. “Beating someone like Jessica, it’s a dream come true.” Her win marked her first WTA 1000 Round of 16 appearance, setting up a clash with either Camila Osorio or Elise Mertens.
Pegula’s loss was part of a chaotic day at Madrid, where upsets shook the women’s draw. The tournament, already buzzing with Iga Swiatek’s record-tying performance and Alexander Zverev’s ELC controversy, saw other seeds like Zheng Qinwen fall, amplifying the unpredictability of the clay season. For Pegula, the defeat was a stark contrast to her otherwise consistent year, which included 27 wins from 34 matches. Her 2022 Madrid final run, where she fell to Ons Jabeur in three sets, had raised expectations, but this early exit—her earliest in Madrid since 2021—left her visibly shaken. “You have days like this, but it stings when it’s a tournament you love,” she said, hinting at the emotional toll.
The broader context of Pegula’s season adds depth to the narrative. After a neck injury sidelined her in 2024, forcing withdrawals from Madrid and Roland Garros, her 2025 resurgence had been remarkable. Her Charleston title, won in an all-American final against Sofia Kenin, showcased her adaptability on clay, a surface where she once struggled. Yet, her Stuttgart quarterfinal loss to Ekaterina Alexandrova hinted at vulnerabilities, and Uchijima exposed them ruthlessly. The defeat cost Pegula 215 ranking points from her 2023 quarterfinal run, potentially kindling her pursuit of the No. 2 spot behind Aryna Sabalenka.
As the Madrid Open progresses, Uchijima’s breakthrough underscores the depth of the WTA Tour, where qualifiers and underdogs can topple giants. For Pegula, the focus shifts to Roland Garros, where she reached the quarterfinals in 2022. Her determination, a trait she’s long championed—“One word to describe me would be determined,” she once said—will be tested as she seeks to rebound. For now, the tennis world buzzes with talk of Uchijima’s upset, a reminder that on clay, heart and hustle can outshine even the brightest stars.