Indian Wells will offer a different and potentially more difficult challenge. Pegula is just 8-7 here, and has never made the quarterfinals.
“It’s always been really tough for me here,” she admits. “I think it’s one of the tougher tournaments, honestly, to win because of how drastic the conditions can change from morning to night, windy, cold, hot, dry.”
Pegula says she’s more adaptable than she once was. She’ll get her first chance to show it when she takes on Vekic during the evening session in Stadium 1. She and the Croatian have played twice, both times on grass, and Pegula won both in close two-setters.
By Saturday evening, conditions should be slower than they were for either of those grass-court encounters. Vekic would seem like a good opponent for Pegula. She hits a hard, but not overpowering ball, which should give the American a chance to counter-punch with pace. Vekic, who is ranked 103rd at the moment, is also a streakier player than the dialed-in version of Pegula we’ve seen to start the year. Winner: Pegula
