Miami Open women's preview: Are Sabalenka and Rybakina on another level? The Sunshine Double kicks into a higher—or at least faster—gear in its second half. Miami, like Indian Wells, is a hard-court 1000 with a 96-player draw. But the surface is a little quicker, the fans a little louder, the humidity a little—OK, a lot—higher, and the pace of life much more frenetic. We’re also one week closer to the peak intensity of the Grand Slam season. Who’s ready to step up their games, or, in the case of the top performers from last week, keep them at a high level? Here are three things to look for as the women move east, and close out hard courts until July. Tennis Year-Round: Limited time only, $77/year Can Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina make it four big-stage clashes in a row? All of a sudden, we have a new rivalry at the top of the WTA Tour. As of this week, Sabalenka and Rybakina are ranked No. 1 and 2, and they’ve met in three straight top-tier finals: WTA Finals, Australian Open, Indian Wells. The last two were high-quality three-setters, with each player winning one. Together, they’re about as high-powered a pair as we’ve seen, and they’ve separated themselves from the pack. This is what we want to see, right? The problem in Miami—if it is a problem—is that they’re on track to meet in the semifinals, rather than the final. The seedings were done when Iga Swiatek was still No. 2, so she’s the second seed, and Rybakina has landed in Sabalenka’s half. There’s no reason to think they won’t play again. Sabalenka is the defending champ in Miami, and Rybakina is a two-time runner-up here. In 2023, she fell match one short of the Sunshine Double. They have comparably difficult paths to the semifinals. Sabalenka’s competition could come from Madison Keys or Zheng Qinwen.#aryna_sabalenka #miami_open #jessica_pegula #iga_swiatek #elena_rybakina
BNP Paribas Open 2026: Pegula and Bencic Advance to Fourth Round American Jessica Pegula, the No. 5 seed, advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open after defeating Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No. 26 seed, in a three-set match that concluded with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The encounter, which lasted one hour and 46 minutes, saw Pegula overcome an aggressive start from Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, and regain control of the match in the second set. Ostapenko dominated the opening set by positioning Pegula behind the baseline and striking the ball with precision, securing the first set 6-4. However, her consistency wavered as Pegula began to read Ostapenko’s service motion more effectively. The American capitalized on this by winning six consecutive games from 2-3 to 6-3 in the second set, shifting the momentum in her favor. Pegula closed the match with a double-break lead, punctuating her victory with a crosscourt forehand winner. Pegula credited her ability to adjust mid-match, stating, “I had to kind of snap myself back and kind of lock in to not let that get away from me, because then obviously it starts to affect everything.” Her strategic shifts allowed her to neutralize Ostapenko’s high-risk hitting and secure the win. Meanwhile, Swiss player Belinda Bencic advanced to the fourth round by defeating Belgian Elise Mertens, the No. 22 seed, in straight sets (6-2, 6-3). Bencic controlled the match from the outset, dictating the rhythm and preventing Mertens from finding a comfortable hitting zone. The Swiss player converted four of her break point opportunities while remaining unbroken, leading to a decisive victory that concluded in just over 80 minutes of play. Pegula’s win sets up a fourth-round clash against Bencic, the No. 12 seed, in the California desert.#bnp_paribas_open #jelena_ostapenko #jessica_pegula #belinda_bencic #elise_mertens
Jessica Pegula Reflects on Her Emotional Outburst During Crucial Match Jessica Pegula, the fifth-seeded American player, revealed that her tendency to remain composed on the court has made it difficult for others to recognize her frustration during high-pressure moments. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically during her third-round match at the Indian Wells tournament against Jelena Ostapenko. The match, which saw Ostapenko dominate the early stages, became a turning point for Pegula as she confronted her emotions and ultimately staged a remarkable comeback. Pegula, known for her typically reserved demeanor, admitted that her frustration became more visible during the match. Ostapenko, the 26th-seeded Latvian, took control early, leading 6-4 in the first set and 2-0 in the second. At that point, Pegula’s frustration began to surface, with her body language and reactions betraying her internal struggle. She described feeling like she was reliving past challenges, where she had to overcome similar situations. “I was just like, here we go again,” she said, acknowledging her hope that Ostapenko might not start as strongly. Despite her initial frustration, Pegula’s emotional release seemed to catalyze a shift in her performance. After breaking Ostapenko’s serve in the sixth game of the second set, she gained momentum, securing three more breaks to take control of the match. The turning point came as she managed to break Ostapenko’s serve repeatedly, leading to a decisive 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory. In the aftermath, Pegula addressed how her emotional outburst played a role in her ability to refocus. She admitted that her usual lack of outward expression made it harder for others to notice her internal struggles.#tennis #indian_wells_tournament #jelena_ostapenko #jessica_pegula #belinda_bencic
Indian Wells preview: Will Pegula finally solve Bencic? The Indian Wells tournament kicks off with a high-stakes clash between Jessica Pegula and Belinda Bencic, two top players with contrasting histories. Pegula, the 2025 Dubai champion, faces Bencic, a former Abu Dhabi titleholder and new mother, in a match that could define their recent form. The draw also features Elena Rybakina against Sonay Kartal, Katerina Siniakova challenging Elina Svitolina, and Karolina Muchova aiming to upset Iga Swiatek in the Round of 16. Momentum appears to favor the winners of last month’s WTA 1000 events in the Middle East. Muchova, who defeated Antonia Ruzic in straight sets, and Pegula, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat Jelena Ostapenko, headline the action. The Round of 16 also includes Top 10 players Iga Swiatek, Rybakina, and Svitolina, while Siniakova, ranked 44th, stunned defending champion Mirra Andreeva with a dramatic comeback win. Pegula’s path to the Round of 16 was marked by her ability to recover from early deficits, a trait that has earned her 13 comeback wins since the start of last season. However, her record against Bencic remains a challenge—Bencic holds a 4-0 edge in their head-to-head, including an 8-0 record in sets. Pegula acknowledged the difficulty, noting her struggles against Bencic and the need to improve. "I think I have become a much better player over the last six months," she said, expressing confidence in her ability to compete. Bencic, meanwhile, has maintained consistency, dropping just 10 games in her recent match against Elise Mertens. The 28-year-old mother has a strong history at Indian Wells, with a 10-4 record since 2019, including runs to the semifinals and quarterfinals. Her performance against Mertens, a 6-2, 6-3 victory, underscores her resilience.#indian_wells #jessica_pegula #elena_rybakina #sonay_kartal #belinda_bencic
Indian Wells Daily Preview: Djokovic, Swiatek, Alcaraz Play Their Third Round Matches The third round of singles matches at the Indian Wells tournament concludes on Monday, featuring three of the event’s top players. Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Carlos Alcaraz are all set to compete in their third-round matches, with each appearing as a strong favorite. However, other high-profile players may face more challenging paths. Defending champion Jack Draper will take on Francisco Cerundolo, whose powerful forehand could pose a threat, while recent Duabi champion Jessica Pegula faces Jelena Ostapenko, a player known for her dangerous baseline game. The day’s schedule includes several notable matches, listed in chronological order with local times: Novak Djokovic, the third-seeded player, faces Aleksandar Kovacevic in the third round at 11:00am on Stadium 1. Djokovic has not won a Masters 1000 title since 2023 and has not advanced beyond the fourth round of Indian Wells since his last title here in 2016. He came back from a set down in his opening round to defeat Kamil Majchrzak in three sets. This is Kovacevic’s first appearance in the third round of a Masters event, and Djokovic holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage over the 27-year-old American. Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed, will take on Jelena Ostapenko, the 26th seed, at 11:00am on Stadium 2. Pegula also rallied from a set down in her opening round to beat Donna Vekic. Ostapenko’s performance over the past year has been inconsistent, with a record of 19-19 in singles matches. While she reached the semifinals at Indian Wells in 2021, she has not advanced beyond the third round since. Their head-to-head record is tied at 2-2, with Ostapenko’s recent form suggesting she could be a tough opponent.#novak_djokovic #carlos_alcaraz #jelena_ostapenko #jessica_pegula #iga_swiatek
BNP Paribas Open Betting Odds and Match Previews for March 9, 2026, Women’s Singles The BNP Paribas Open round of 32 on March 9, 2026, features eight matches, including a notable clash between fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula and 26th-ranked Jelena Ostapenko. Pegula enters the tournament with a strong record of 13-2 this year, including a tournament title, while Ostapenko has a 6-6 record across six events but has yet to secure a title. The match is expected to be a key highlight of the day’s action. The tournament’s betting odds, provided by BetMGM Sportsbook, reflect the perceived chances of various players advancing to the next round. Among the top contenders, Iga Swiatek is the favorite at +135, followed by Mirra Andreeva at +300 and Karolina Muchova at +350. Other notable names include Elina Svitolina at +550, Maria Sakkari at +2000, and Katerina Siniakova at +2000. Antonia Ruzic and Ashlyn Krueger are listed at +2200, indicating they are long shots to win the tournament. One of the day’s most anticipated matches is the showdown between Marta Kostyuk and Elena Rybakina, scheduled for 11:00 PM ET. Kostyuk is listed as a -350 favorite, while Rybakina is at +260. The match is expected to draw significant attention due to the contrasting rankings and recent form of the two players. The tournament’s betting market also includes a range of other matches, with odds reflecting the current momentum of players. The full list of sports betting odds can be accessed through USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub, though the specific details for the round of 32 matches are highlighted in the breakdown. The BNP Paribas Open continues to attract top-tier talent, with the round of 32 offering a mix of established stars and rising contenders.#betmgm_sportsbook #bnp_paribas_open #jelena_ostapenko #jessica_pegula #iga_swiatek
Good News and Bad News for Pegula: A Comeback Win, but the Sponsor Activation Is On Jessica Pegula’s victory over Donna Vekic in the third round of the Indian Wells tournament highlighted both her resilience and a momentary lapse in focus. The No. 5 seed faced challenges in the first set, struggling to control the ball against the hard-hitting Croatian player. During the match, Pegula admitted to wandering mentally, briefly entertaining thoughts about the sponsor obligations she had to fulfill the following day. “I was thinking about, ‘Wow, this would not be great if I lose,’ and maybe I can get out of the sponsor thing I have to do tomorrow,” she said. Despite these distractions, Pegula regrouped and secured a comeback win with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, setting up a clash against Jelena Ostapenko. Pegula, who leads their head-to-head record 3-2, demonstrated her ability to turn around matches, having won seven of her last 12 contests after losing the first set. Pegula credited a strategic adjustment in her equipment for the turnaround. She switched to a tighter racquet tension, which she said gave her more confidence to take risks with her shots. “I switched to a tighter racquet. That kind of gave me a little bit more freedom to feel like I could go for my shots,” she explained. This change in grip, combined with her mental preparation, allowed her to regain control of the match. Pegula emphasized her comfort in high-pressure situations, noting that while there’s always a “little bit of panic,” her experience in similar scenarios has reduced the intensity over time. “I think I’m just comfortable in those situations,” she said. “There’s always a little bit of panic, but at the same time, I’ve been dealing with those matches for a while, and maybe not as much panic as it used to be.#tennis #indian_wells_tournament #jessica_pegula #donna_vekic #jelena_ostapenko
