Victoria Azarenka vs Jessica Pegula Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Indian Wells

Prediction published on 13/10/2021, 09:35  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 13/10/2021 at 10:59 in Tennis Predictions

Another surprising women's tournament is taking place. The top nine seeds at Indian Wells have all been knocked out of the event. 19th seeded Jessica Pegula (the fourth highest remaining seed) takes on 27th seeded Victoria Azarenka in the last eight. The winner takes on either Jelena Ostapenko or Shelby Rogers in the semi-finals. Pegula began this year as the world number 63 but has steadily been climbing up the rankings. The American began this week in 24th place but in the live rankings is up to 20th. Two semi-finals have been reached this year and she has a good chance here of making it to a third. This week has seen her beat Sloane Stephens, Jasmine Paoli and then Pegula beat fourth seeded Elina Svitolina for the loss of just two games.

Victoria Azarenka is the world number 32 but began this year ranked 13th. March saw her reach the Doha semi-finals and then in June, the last four of a grass court tournament in Berlin. The only real success since then has been a quarter final in Toronto. The past two tournaments have seen her beaten by Garbine Muguruza, the second of which she pulled out of with an injury. This week, Azarenka has had wins over Magda Linette, seventh seeded Petra Kvitova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Azarenka lost to Pegula in this year's Australian Open and again in Madrid when withdrawing. She did get a three-set win over the American in the Berlin grass court. Pegula looks to be in top form at present and can get the win here.