Global Tennis Icon Venus Williams Set for ATX Open Debut

AUSTIN, Texas – Venus Williams, one of the greatest tennis players in history, has announced her commitment to play in the 2026 ATX Open at Westwood Country Club in Austin. The winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, 49 WTA singles titles and the most decorated tennis player in Olympic history with four Olympic gold medals (one in singles, three in doubles) and one Olympic silver medal (mixed doubles), Williams was ranked World No. 1 in both women’s singles (2002) and doubles (2010) by the WTA.

A five-time Wimbledon singles champion and two-time US Open singles champion, Williams is also one half of the most successful doubles team in women’s tennis history. Alongside her sister Serena, she won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and holds a perfect 14–0 record in Grand Slam doubles finals. She also holds the record for most US Open main draw appearances with 25.

After more than a year away from the game, Williams, 45, returned to WTA competition last July at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, earning her first singles win since August 2023. With a straight-sets victory over the World No. 35 player, she became the oldest tour-level match winner in more than 20 years. Williams is the oldest woman to win a singles match on tour since Martina Navratilova in 2004 who did so at age 47.

On joining the ranks of 2026 ATX Open commitments, Venus Williams said, “I’m so excited to be heading to Austin and playing my first ATX Open. The city has such great energy and I’ve heard the fans are incredible. I’m looking forward to playing both singles and doubles in front of such a passionate tennis community.”

With the initial entry list for the 2026 ATX Open released last week, Williams will join nearly two dozen of the world’s Top 100 players set to compete at Westwood Country Club from February 21 to March 1.

The field includes numerous American stars and ATX Open fan favorites including World No. 6 Jessica Pegula, a semifinalist at this year’s Australian Open and a finalist at both the 2024 US Open and 2023 WTA Finals. She will be joined by former NCAA champion and Texas Longhorn Peyton Stearns who made a breakthrough run at the inaugural ATX Open by earning her first WTA Tour match win and reaching her first tour quarterfinal. Also returning is Australian standout Ajla Tomljanović, a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist who advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 ATX Open. The field also includes 17-year-old American phenom Iva Jović who most recently reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Adding to the excitement, McCartney Kessler is returning to the ATX Open. After battling then–World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the first all-American final in tournament history last March, Kessler will once again take the courts at Westwood Country Club. That match marked the first WTA all-American final on U.S. soil since 2017. Last year, Kessler also became the first ATX Open player to reach both the singles and doubles finals in the same year.

“This is our strongest player field yet,” said Tournament Director Christo Van Rensburg. “With Venus joining the action at Westwood, Year 4 of WTA Tour tennis in Austin puts the world on notice that the Texas Tennis Takeover is only growing. The last three years have delivered thrilling moments and memorable finals and this year’s tournament will be unlike any we’ve had before.”

One additional wild card entrant will be announced later this week. Additional players will join the field following two rounds of qualifying play during the opening weekend, February 21–22. One special exempt player may also be added to complete the 32-player field.

Tickets for the 2026 ATX Open are selling quickly. The fourth edition of Austin’s premier professional tennis tournament features new ticket options including general admission seating and discounted tickets for juniors ages 14 and under.

Click here for full list of ticketing options.