Jessica Pegula Overcomes Belinda Bencic at Indian Wells

American star defeats Swiss player for the first time in five career meetings

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Jessica Pegula defeated 12th seed Belinda Bencic 6-3, 7-6(5) in the fourth round of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, booking her place in the quarterfinals. This was Pegula's first victory over Bencic in five career meetings, as she had previously struggled to find a way to overcome the Swiss player's game.

Why it matters

Pegula's victory over Bencic is significant as it marks a shift in their rivalry, with the American finally cracking the puzzle that had troubled her for years. The win will boost Pegula's confidence as she continues her run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.

The details

Pegula explained that her strategy centered on protecting her serve while applying pressure on Bencic's delivery. She said, "She's a really good returner, so I know I had to focus on my serve a lot. I've been serving really well here, so I just wanted to keep that confidence going. Not afraid to move the serve around, go for my second serves, and know that she's going to hit some good returns." Pegula also noted that she wanted to "pressure her serve a lot" as she is "a really good returner".

  • The match took place in the fourth round of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on March 12, 2026.

The players

Jessica Pegula

An American professional tennis player who has reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3.

Belinda Bencic

A Swiss professional tennis player who has won 5 WTA singles titles and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 4.

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What they’re saying

“Had to turn the tables today. Nobody beats me five times in a row. Gosh.”

— Jessica Pegula (on-court interview)

“Really happy with today, being able to turn around my pretty poor record against Belinda. So, you know, when you're able to figure that out and get over that hump, it's always a good feeling. Just excited that I was able to, yeah, accept that challenge and figure it out.”

— Jessica Pegula (post-match press conference)

What’s next

Pegula will face the third seed and 2023 champion, Elena Rybakina, in the quarterfinals. This will be their eighth meeting on the WTA Tour, with Rybakina holding a 4-3 lead in their head-to-head record.

The takeaway

Pegula's victory over Bencic, a player who had consistently troubled her in the past, demonstrates her growth as a player and her ability to adapt her strategy to overcome a difficult opponent. This win will boost her confidence as she continues her run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.