Indian Wells: Kvitova saves four match points to upset Pegula and book Sakkari QF clash

Czech Petra Kvitova, the No 15 seed, put on a vintage performance on Tuesday evening at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The two-time Wimbledon champion had her back against the wall on several occasions against third seed Jessica Pegula but managed to fight back each time.

In the end, after a two-hour 14-minute battle, Kvitova saved four match points to emerge to win an epic tiebreak in the deciding set 13-11 and complete the 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (11) win.

The Czech now improves to 4-1 lifetime against Pegula, including 2-0 in 2023 after a win over the American at the United Cup in January.

Kvitova, ranked No 15 in the world, will play Greek Maria Sakkari, the No 7 seed, next.

Ahead of her win on Tuesday, the 33-year-old Czech beat American wildcard Elizabeth Mandlik (6-1, 7-5) and edged out Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, the No 24 seed (0-6, 6-0, 6-4).

Pegula, ranked No 3 in the world, won against Italian Camila Giorgi (3-6, 6-1, 6-2) and edged out Russian Anastasia Potapova, the No 26 seed (3-6, 6-4, 7-5) in the previous rounds of the tournament.

Indian Wells WTA 1000, other round of 16 matches (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 8,800,000):

• Karolina Muchova beat Marketa Vondrousova: 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4
• Aryna Sabalenka (2) beat Barbora Krejcikova (16): 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
• Coco Gauff (6) beat Rebecca Peterson: 6-3, 1-6, 6-4
• Maria Sakkari beat Karolina Pliskova (17): 6-4, 5-7, 6-3
• Iga Swiatek vs. Emma Raducanu
• Elena Rybakina vs. Varvara Gracheva
• Sorana Cirstea vs. Caroline Garcia

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