Pegula scores first win over Bencic, returns to Indian Wells quarterfinals

Historically, Jessica Pegula had minimal success against Belinda Bencic on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz -- Zero wins in their previous four meetings, and zero sets won in all those matches for the American.

The brightside of that was their last match came nearly three years ago at Charleston in 2023. Therefore, Wednesday's BNP Paribas Open Round of 16 match at Indian Wells was an opportunity for Pegula -- who's been playing some of the best tennis of her career as of late -- to rewrite the script.

The 10-time singles winner, who just won a 1000-title in Dubai last month, did just that, defeating the Swiss 6-3, 7-6 (5). Pegula reaches earn second quarterfinal at Indian Wells (2021), and has now advanced to the final eight in all four tournaments she's played this year.

Pegula awaits the winner of Elena Rybakina and Sonay Kartal in the quarterfinals. She last played the former in the semifinals of the Australian Open, a Rybakina win, and has never faced Kartal.

"Had to turn the tables," Pegula said in her on-court interview with a smile. "Today, nobody beats me five times in a row. She's been a really tough opponent for me, but I feel like since the last I played her, I'm a different player."

Both players are at their best when they're the aggressor, controlling the tempo and dictating their respective opponent's movement, making Wednesday's match all the more interesting. Both displayed powerful return games, with a combined 55 winners -- Pegula had the narrow edge with 28 to Bencic's 27. The difference would be Bencic's nine more unforced errors, and Pegula winning 41% of the Swiss' first service points. Pegula also had eight aces to her name.

"I think I'm a much better player now, but I also think that tactically I definitely changed some stuff," Pegula said to press. "I serve much better now, which helps me out not feeling so much pressure with her returning, because she's a really good returner.

"I think tactically I don't want to totally give away what I have been doing, but there was definitely some stuff that I have seen that I've gotten better at that I'm able to adapt to in a point that I'm able to just think a little bit clearly and more quicker out there."

What were the key moments?

Bencic goes down a break a 3-1 in first set: Bencic struck first in the opening game with a break, but the momentum would be short-lived as Pegula put the match back on serve the next game. After Pegula held at 2-1, Bencic -- who's frustration had quickly start to amount -- had a poor service game. Down 15-40, she double faulted to drop the service game. The two traded holds the rest of the set, as Pegula took the opener. 

More double faults: From her first-set frustrations, Bencic turned the fire into a fuel for a rapid start. Similarly, she notched an early break, only this time, Bencic had served first so her lead was 2-0. But the pattern remained the same as Bencic gave the break right back, this time with two consecutive double faults.

Pegula's pivotal break at 2-2: Based on Bencic's strong play at the end of the match, in hindsight, this game in particular was an important break for Pegula. The game itself was the longest of the match, featuring five deuces, but more substantially for Pegula, she saved two Bencic game points, and needed four break-point opportunities to win it. 

Leading 40-30, Bencic had a prime opportunity at the net after Pegula managed to use her backhand to keep the rally alive. As Bencic approached, it seemed she was debating whether to volley it or let it drop, but by the time she decided, the power behind her hit was non-existent, sending the game into the deuce. Pegula, now up a break, took a 3-2 lead. Pegula had four breaks of Bencic's serve Wednesday.

Bencic finally finds her groove: The three-game stretch later in the second set by Bencic showed how dominant the Swiss can be. Down 3-5, she held serve at love, and then hit a beautiful winner that just clipped the line to force a double break point chance that she took advantage of. The set now back on serve, Bencic hit a crucial backhand cross-court winner with the advantage in the deuce to take a 6-5 lead.

Pegula's clutch hold and tiebreak: What makes Pegula such a tough opponent is she doesn't lose her composure when the results in the match aren't going her way -- at least visibly she doesn't seem too frustrated. Tied a 30-all, Bencic was two points away from forcing a third set, but in the penultimate point of the game, she went for a lob with Pegula at the net that went too long. Then, Bencic could only return Pegula's powerful first serve into the net as the second set head to a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Pegula sprinted to a 5-2 lead. At 6-3, she had three match points to fend off Bencic, and Pegula would need all three to close out the one hour and 48-minute match.

"I think that probably the slower conditions, it does probably favor the bigger hitters, that just have more pure, strong power, because they're able to kind of hit through a slower court or slower ball," Pegula said. "I think that maybe has always been a little bit tougher for me, but that's something I have tried to improve and get better at."