Jessica Pegula can equal one of Maria Sharapova’s tennis records at Indian Wells this week

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Jessica Pegula is on track to match Maria Sharapova if she makes it all the way to the semifinals of Indian Wells.

WTA number five Pegula is the fifth seed at Indian Wells, where she is already into the third round after knocking out Donna Vekic.

Vekic shocked the American by winning the first set of their second round match, but Pegula recovered to win 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 after one hour and 55 minutes.

The home favorite, who lost her doubles opener with compatriot McCartney Kessler, will now take on Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 32.

Jessica Pegula can match Maria Sharapova’s semifinal run

Pegula entered Indian Wells on the back of a very successful run at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she lifted the trophy.

There, the American reached a seventh successive WTA semifinal, and will now be looking for something similar in California.

And if she does, she will become the first player to reach eight consecutive semifinals since WTA legend Maria Sharapova.

The Russian superstar, who won five Grand Slam titles during her glittering career, managed the feat from Beijing 2012 through Madrid 2013.

• 2025 US Open – Semifinal
• 2025 China Open – Semifinal
• 2025 Wuhan Open – Final
• 2025 WTA Finals – Semifinal
• 2026 Brisbane International – Semifinal
• 2026 Australian Open – Semifinal
• 2026 Dubai Tennis Championships – Winner

Jessica Pegula vs Jelena Ostapenko H2H before Indian Wells clash

It certainly won’t be an easy feat for Pegula, who must first make it past former French Open champion Ostapenko at Tennis Paradise.

Her fantastic semifinal run started back at the US Open in 2025, and doesn’t include the recent ATX Open as she withdrew from the tournament before it started.

The American has been smart with her schedule in 2026 so far, and has achieved great success despite Pegula dealing with a long-term injury.

Focus now turns to Ostapenko, with whom she has a 3-2 head-to-head record, which stands at 2-1 on hard courts.

Jessica Pegula is America’s best chance of Indian Wells success

Pegula is a 10-time champion on the WTA Tour, but has never clinched the title on home soil at Indian Wells.

She is joined in this year’s third round by fellow Americans and fellow top 10 players Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova.

Both players face intriguing ties in California, with Gauff taking on Alexandra Eala and Anisimova meeting Emma Raducanu.

American women endured a nightmare start to Indian Wells, but home hope also remains in the form of Madison Keys and Ashlyn Krueger.

Keys faces Sonay Kartal as Krueger plays Elina Svitolina, but given her form, Pegula remains America’s best chance of an Indian Wells champion.