Tomljanovic Advances in Three-Set Thriller
For 2 hours and 33 minutes in their ATX Open quarterfinal, Ena Shibahara fought tirelessly, but Ajla Tomljanović stood firm. In the end, Tomljanović outlasted Shibahara, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8), clinching victory on her eighth match point to advance to the semifinals. The match, the longest of this year’s ATX Open so far, was incredibly close: Tomljanović won 109 points, Shibahara 107 – the margin of difference came down to the tiebreak score.
Tomljanović will face top-seeded Jessica Pegula in the semifinals, who breezed through Anna Blinkova in just under an hour with a 6-2, 6-2 win.
The first two sets of Tomljanović-Shibahara offered tense, if not flawless, tennis from both players, who had come into Austin with only one win each on the WTA Hologic Tour in 2025. Tomljanović, ranked No. 111 and 31 years old, served out the first set with a service winner, while 27-year-old Shibahara, ranked No. 148 and representing Japan, closed out the second with three aces.
Tomljanović failed to convert her first match point with Shibahara serving at 2-5 in the third set. She later served for the match at 5-3 but was broken at 30-40, hampered by two double faults. By this time, Shibahara, playing in her first career quarterfinal, had begun mixing in drop shots to complement her aggressive groundstrokes and strong serve. Still, she had to save two more match points while serving at 5-6.
In the tiebreak, Tomljanović led 4-1 with precise groundstrokes hugging the baseline, then stretched her lead to 6-3, giving her three more match points. She finally tracked down a dropshot and executed a flawless one-handed backhand chip passing shot. Shibahara, a former top-4 doubles player, stayed aggressive, saving two more match points, including one with a swinging backhand volley crosscourt. But Tomljanović’s double fault on a match point gave Shibahara another chance at serving for the match at 7-8. At 8-8, Shibahara’s dropshot attempt landed in the net, and Tomljanović sealed the match with a powerful forehand.
“Oh, I think I lost a few lives today, that’s for sure,” Tomljanović said in her post-match interview. “But it’s okay – I’ll take that for a win. Wow, I feel mentally drained – that was demanding.”
She praised Shibahara for making it to the quarterfinals from qualifying but admitted, “It would’ve been a tough one to lose, so I’m glad I’m through.”
Pegula Dominates in Quick Victory
Pegula and Blinkova had gone three sets in their previous three encounters, but this one was different. Pegula, the top seed and world No. 4, set the tone early, winning the first eight points and finishing with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in just 58 minutes.
Before the match, Pegula was concerned about hitting too well during warmups. “Sometimes when you have a really bad warmup, you play amazing,” she explained afterward. “I tried not to overthink it and just focus on playing the ball clean. I had to rein it in, keep my feet moving, and play smart.”
Kessler Pulls Away
McCartney Kessler gained momentum in the third set as Sorana Cîrstea ran out of gas, and the fifth-seeded American advanced to the semifinals with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory. Kessler, who’s climbed nearly 100 spots in the rankings to No. 56, broke for a 4-3 lead in the second set and held to go up 5-3. Cîrstea, recovering from foot surgery, saved three set points on her serve but couldn’t hold on. Kessler reflected, “The first set wasn’t my best, but I competed well enough to get it to a third, then really started playing my best tennis.”
Minnen Defeats Dolehide
Greet Minnen of Belgium showcased her power in a 6-3, 7-5 win over American Caroline Dolehide, advancing to the semifinals against Kessler. Minnen, ranked No. 92, took the first set without facing a break point. The second set was more competitive, with four breaks in the first six games. Dolehide, ranked No. 80, couldn’t capitalize on a set point with Minnen serving at 4-5, and was broken in the next game, giving Minnen the match.
Minnen, who reached her first tour semifinal since 2023, shared that she was “really focused and aggressive” in the first set. “Dolehide played better in the second set, really dictating more, but I had to hang in there,” she said. “I’m happy to get through.”
