Madison Keys identifies Jessica Pegula’s biggest ‘superpower’ right now as her strong form continues

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Madison Keys has been impressed by what Jessica Pegula has managed to do at the start of the 2026 season.

Keys and Pegula are good friends, and also co-host The Players’ Box Podcast alongside former Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady and doubles player Desirae Krawczyk.

The most in-form of these four players is Pegula, who won the Dubai Tennis Championships title last month.

After Pegula beat Jelena Ostapenko to reach the fourth round of Indian Wells, Keys claimed that her compatriot had a ‘superpower’ that made her one of the best on the WTA Tour.

Madison Keys praises Jessica Pegula’s consistency on the WTA Tour

Pegula has reached at least the semifinals of her last seven tournaments, which dates back to the US Open.

She is two wins away from making this eight at Indian Wells, but she will not be joined by Keys, who was beaten by Briton Sonay Kartal.

In her post-match press conference after losing to Kartal, Keys was asked about Pegula and if she feels she is starting to come into her own as one of the leading players on the WTA Tour.

Keys actually suggested that Pegula has been one of the best players since reaching the US Open final in 2024, before calling her consistency a ‘superpower’.

“I mean, I think she’s been pretty much a name at the end of the tournament for a few years now, so I think that’s kind of her superpower is she seems like she kind of figured her game out and how she wanted to play, and then she hasn’t gone away,” answered Keys.

“I don’t know if I would say right now specifically. Obviously she broke through, was it two years ago, at the US Open, to make her first final, but, I mean, I think her consistency, and she doesn’t lose matches that she shouldn’t lose.”

Not only is the world number five one of the best players in women’s tennis right now, but Pegula is also hoping to make change on the WTA Tour as the president of the new Architecture Council.

Jessica Pegula has a big hurdle to overcome in her next match at Indian Wells

Although Pegula has been praised for her consistency, her semifinal streak is at a big risk of coming to an end at Indian Wells.

Pegula will now play world number 12 Belinda Bencic, who she has never beaten before.

In their four previous meetings, Bencic has won every set she has played against Pegula, with two of their four previous meetings taking place on outdoor hard courts.

This is a real concern for Pegula, especially as Indian Wells has not been her best tournament in the past, having not surpassed the quarterfinals in her seven previous appearances.

Bencic is a former semifinalist at Indian Wells, and she will look to continue her dominance against Pegula when they play on Wednesday, March 11.