Third-ranked Jessica Pegula Battles her way to Fourth Round in Indian Wells
California : While Jessica Pegula, an American, still finds it “strange” to think of herself as the third-ranked player in the world, she is under no special need to perform well because of the position.
The American claimed that her capacity for compartmentalization helps her remain focused on each match, just as it aids her in taking each point as it comes in the type of comeback victory she required on Sunday to advance to the fourth round of the Indian Wells combined WTA and ATP Masters 1000 hard court tournament.
“It was certainly a struggle today,” Pegula remarked after outlasting Anastasia Potapova, who won the WTA title in Linz last month, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Pegula said, “I simply felt like I started off a bit sluggish. She certainly went for a lot of her shots, showing that she had some confidence. She just won a competition as well. So I’m just thrilled I was able to get back into the game and play much better than I did in the beginning.
Pegula had to come back from a set down to win for the second consecutive time.
Pegula said that in contrast to Camila Giorgi, who she had to work particularly hard to motivate, against Potapova she just attempted to follow her game plan.
She remarked, “I simply tried to maintain my composure and concentrate on what I was trying to achieve, particularly on my service games. “I believed I could destroy her. I was going to have opportunities.
Despite having made it to the quarterfinals of four of the previous five Grand Slams and winning one of her two WTA championships in Guadalajara last year, Pegula has yet to it to the last four of a major.
She said that although being recognized as one of the best players in the world may have increased the pressure “at initially,” it hasn’t altered the way she plays.
I excel at focusing on one match at a time. I believe it has helped since I haven’t been too pressured to place in the top five, she added.
It’s strange. It’s strange to consider that I’m just around three years old. I almost hate to say that. It’s probably a good thing.
