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World No. 3 Jessica Pegula recently said that she doesn't believe Iga Swiatek is invincible on the court.
Pegula and Swiatek have met on the WTA tour seven times, with the Pole emerging victorious on five occasions. The American won their first meeting at the 2019 Citi Open, and her most recent victory over the Pole came at the 2023 United Cup, a 6-2, 6-2 demolition that left the World No. 1 in tears.
Jessica Pegula spoke to reporters following her third-round win over Anastasia Potapova at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. While acknowledging the incredible streak Swiatek went on last year, the American pointed out that the pair have been involved in "pretty close matches" and that she knows what she needs to do to beat the World No. 1.
"She's definitely not invincible in my mind. I have played her in pretty close matches. But obviously with her winning, you know, a lot of matches and the streak she went on last year, yeah, she definitely was feeling it for a while there," Pegula said.
"But it definitely helps. I think it helps just knowing what I have to do to win, knowing what worked, what didn't work," she added.
Pegula then reflected on her 2023 United Cup victory over Iga Swiatek, saying it was a "flawless" match in which she was able to execute her strategy properly, and that the win gave her plenty of confidence.
"You know, I played a pretty flawless match, to be honest, that match. I kind of did everything I wanted to do was just working. Some days are like that and you take it. But I think, you know, obviously there was a lot of different, the conditions were different, courts are pretty fast, and I think it maybe favored me a little bit," she said.
"Yeah, it definitely helps strategy-wise, what I know I need to do and knowing that it worked, for the most part, definitely gives confidence, you know, for whenever the next time I have to play her," she added.
"I'm just glad I was able to work my way back into the match" - Jessica Pegula on her 3R win at BNP Paribas Open
Jessica Pegula advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after defeating Anastasia Potapova in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. When asked about the victory, she stated that she wasn't "completely surprised" by her opponent's performance and that she was "glad" to have fought back the way she did.
"I've played her before, once where I won a little bit easier and once where I also had a really tough match with her. I wasn't completely surprised. I know she can play really well, and she definitely came out hitting her shots and painting lines and going after it," Pegula said.
"So I'm just glad I was able to work my way back into the match, and, you know, ended up playing much better than how I started," she added.
Jessica Pegula will next lock horns with 15th seed Petra Kvitova on Tuesday, March 14.
