Eyes on the Prize

Ladies and gentlemen, let the games begin.

The inaugural Opening Weekend festivities are in both the books and the memory banks. And, yes! They were as fun as expected. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the fun with us. And now….every eye will be fixed on the road to the ATX Open titles.

YUAN TO WATCH

Kicking off the action on Stadium Court will be Arina Rodionova and Yuan Yue. The two will be facing off for the second time in as many months with Arina winning that Thailand encounter. Yue, who may be a newer name to the Austin crowd, will certainly have payback in mind.

“COME ON” CAMPAIGN
It is fair to say that some of the most anticipated battles will be waged in the doubles arena, today featuring a couple of very familiar faces. Danielle Collins, a singles and doubles quarterfinalist last year, will begin her final ATX Open campaign by teaming up with Austin local and Vanderbilt alum Fernanda Contreras. With Collins, the two-time NCAA national champ, having announced this as her final season on tour, we plan to savor every moment she spends on court.

Come one…come all…and plan to hear a lot of “come ons.”

DYNAMIC DUO

First up in the evening session, Americans Sloane Stephens and Peyton Stearns will join forces. Expect the seats to be full and the fans to be fired up. Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, reached the singles semifinal in last year’s tournament and will be looking to go a couple of steps further. Stearns is a local hero, having delivered the University of Texas its first NCAA women’s singles championship and a pair of team titles. Wherever she goes, the Austin crowds are sure to follow.

CURFEW CANCELED

The nightcap will feature a battle of ATX Open debutants. The veteran Alizé Cornet is playing her nineteenth season, but you will not be able to detect that from her movement or fight. She is excited to be in Austin and will relish the chance to take on former US Open junior champion Canila Osorio, who is twelve years her junior. I hope you do not have a curfew because no one will be giving an inch in this one.