A Terrific Tuesday on Tap

Day one of the inaugural ATX Open is in the books and it certainly did not disappoint.

Now, we turn our attention to day two, which shows no signs of turning down the excitement. The appetizing Tuesday match menu includes our two top seeds, four all-American matchups, and, well, Danielle Collins.

HARD AT HOME (HARD TO SHUAI)

On Stadium Court, the day’s first match features 4-time ITF singles winner, Harriet Dart, taking on our No. 2 seed, Shuai Zhang, an experienced player who thrives on the hardcourts. She owns three singles trophies and two grand slam doubles titles, all coming on hardcourts. She just might be feeling more than at home in Austin.

MAGDA’S MOMENT

Magda Linette enters her second straight tournament as the No. 1 seed and the No. 21 player in the world (a career high). Those rights were well earned at this year’s breakthrough Australian Open where she stunned world No. 5 Caroline Garcia and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova en route to her first career grand slam semifinal. But Magda’s quest to be the queen in Austin will have to weather a first round challenge from Varvara Gracheva, who also shined at this year’s Australian Open…equaling her best major result with a third round appearance.

TAYLOR’S MOM-ENTUM

After last night’s doubles victory, Sloane Stephens let the Austin fans know how much she looked forward to her singles match today. Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, will be third on stadium court as she faces off against fellow American Taylor Townsend for the first time in over four years. Since her 18 month break from the sport (for the birth of her son, Adyn), Townsend has seen some of the most impressive results of her career. She has won her 11th and 12th ITF singles titles, reached the US Open doubles final, captured back-to- back WTA doubles trophies and broken into the doubles top 20 for the first time. You will want to be in your seat early to see the next chapter of the story.

DANIMAL DISPLAY

If you have never had the chance to see Danielle Collins play in person, make the most of this opportunity. She is a two-time NCAA women’s national singles champion and an Australian Open finalist whose brand of tennis is fearless and fierce. Seems fitting considering her social media handle: Danimal. Her opponent, Magdalena Frech, will be ready for the challenge as the two do battle for the third time in five months.

JUNIORS NO MORE

The kids are all grown up. In the final match of the night on stadium court, two US Open junior girls doubles champions meet for the second time on tour. Ashlyn Kreuger, the 18-year-old Dallas resident, made the most of her wildcard entry into the qualifying draw and as a reward, will face an in-form Caty McNally. McNally comes to Austin fresh off a singles semifinal appearance in Merida, a result that ensured her a spot in the top 75 for the first time in her career.

PERSISTENCE PAYS

Other must-see action includes Lauren Davis who takes on Anna Kalinskaya. As a qualifier, Davis would lift her second trophy in Hobart last month without dropping a set. The final match on grandstand will feature Robin Montgomery (Krueger’s 18 year old US Open trophy-mate) as she takes on American lucky loser Coco Vandeweghe for a spot in the second round.