Taylor Swift’s ubiquitous mega-hit “Shake it Off” boomed from the Stadium 2 loudspeakers between the first and second sets of Elina Svitolina’s round of 16 tilt with No. 4-seeded Jessica Pegula, and that was the Ukrainian’s cue to shift gears to steal away with the match. 

The former BNP Paribas Open semifinalist shook off her early misfortunes and flipped the match on its ear as she claimed 12 of the final 15 games to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and earn a trip to her 21st WTA 1000 quarterfinal, and first since 2021. 

“I was just trying to regroup after that tough first set,” Svitolina told the crowd after the win. “I felt I had some opportunities and I didn’t take them. I got a little bit angry and a little bit fired up in that second set.”

On a misty day in the California desert, Svitolina and Pegula had to brave a lengthy rain delay after the first game of the third set. It was Svitolina who came back from the interlude with fire in her eyes. She put Pegula on the back foot and raced away with the win. 

“I’m very happy that I could stay composed after the rain delay, it was important to really be focused,” she said. 

2024 US Open runner-up Pegula had won five consecutive hard court meetings against Svitolina, including a three-set victory at Indian Wells in 2021, and it looked like the Buffalo, N.Y. native might be headed for her sixth career win over the Ukrainian.  

Svitolina saved one set point with Pegula serving at 6-5, 40-30, but two points later Pegula executed a beautiful backhand drop shot that Svitolina couldn’t track down to close out the opening set. 

Pegula was good when it mattered in set one, saving four of five break points in the set and converting both of her own break points, including the critical one in the penultimate game for 6-5. 

But she quickly lost her way from there. 

Svitolina got some help from the American, who switched rackets after missing badly on a backhand at 0-1, 15-40 in the second set. Pegula’s new racquet didn’t help, and Svitolina’s good fortunes would continue.  

On the ensuing point, Svitolina ripped a backhand down the line winner for a 2-0 lead, and she would never look back. She took four of the next five games to lock up the set, forcing the pair’s fifth career deciding set. 

The 30-year-old Ukrainian jumped out to an early break in set three before rain wreaked havoc on the proceedings. After the delay, the night sky now lurking above Stadium 2’s floodlights, Svitolina quickly expanded her lead to 5-1 and served out the match two games later, converting her first match point to close out her second Top 10 win of the season in one hour and 59 minutes. 

Svitolina, into the quarterfinals at Tennis Paradise for the first time since 2019, will face either Mirra Andreeva or Elena Rybakina next.

Andreeva Takes Down Former Champ Rybakina, Continues Hot Start To 2025

Mirra Andreeva has officially arrived as mainstay talent on the WTA Tour.

The 17-year-old start continued her fine run of form to start the 2025 season by soaring past former BNP Paribas Open champion Elena Rybakina in Stadium 2.

After some on and off match pauses due to the unpredictable Tuesday Indian Wells weather, Andreeva was able to keep her cool and deliver a confident 6-1, 6-2 takedown of the 2023 Tennis Paradise champion.

With Rybakina forced to miss the 2024 BNP Paribas Open due to illness, this was her first loss at Indian Wells since 2022 in the quarterfinals.

Andreeva's run in the desert comes fresh off the heels of her capturing a maiden WTA 1000 title at the Dubai Championships, which propelled her to become the youngest player to reach the Top 10 since 2007.

Andreeva will meet Elina Svitolina next in a quarterfinal showdown.