Opening Weekend Kicks Off Busy Week at ATX Open

Austinite Sergio Garcia to Join WTA Stars Collins, Stephens on Sunday Funday

AUSTIN, Texas – Austin resident Sergio Garcia is among the special guests who will take part in Sunday Funday alongside WTA stars Danielle Collins and Sloane Stephens as part of an exciting Opening Weekend presented by Artesian at Bee Cave, Loopy Grip, WearSPF and Kendra Scott at the ATX Open Feb. 24-25 at Westwood Country Club. 

The Opening Weekend festivities take place around the qualifying matches for the Hologic WTA Tour 250 tournament. Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday, but free admission tickets must be claimed in advance.

Saturday will include a special doubles pro set challenge match starring UT legend Peyton Stearns and fellow American Katie Volynets. Following that match, the singles draw for the tournament will be made, determining the path for the 32 players as they compete for the coveted ATX Open title. 

The next day has been dubbed “Sunday Funday,” and with good reason, with ATX Open stars Danielle Collins, Sloane Stephens and others playing a doubles competition and also being joined on court for fun and games alongside Austin sporting legends.

Sunday’s activities will start with the inaugural Kids Day at the ATX Open featuring an opportunity for youth to get on the court and give tennis a try. The activities for kids of all ages are supported by the ATX Open Youth Impact Sponsor Dell Children’s Ascension and will be facilitated with help from CATA and USTA Texas. Pre-registration is required for those interested in participating in Kids Day. 

There will also be a world record attempt for tennis ball feeding by USPTA members. 

Austin resident and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia will join the fun on court for both a doubles match and a putting contest against some WTA stars during Sunday afternoon’s stadium show. 

Garcia’s participation comes as he and his wife, Angela, have joined the tournament’s portfolio of sponsors. They are using the partnership to promote their charity, FORE Kids ATX, which supports organizations that provide healthcare, wellness and family support services for all children. 

“We love the game of tennis, admire the dedication of these athletes and believe deeply in the power of sports to build strong, genuinely connected communities”, said Angela Garcia. “We are grateful for the opportunity to help build what will surely be a signature live sport event in our hometown.”

Sergio Garcia was born in Spain and has been a professional golfer since 1999. A current participant in the LIV Invitational Series, he has had an awe-inspiring golfing career, winning 36 international tournaments and spending much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He also holds the record for points scored in the Ryder Cup with 28.5 points to his name. 

Angela attended the University of Texas and played for the Longhorn golf team. She later served as an on-air reporter and host for FOX Sports, NBC, Golf Channel and SiriusXM, where she had her own radio show. As dedicated parents to two children, the Garcias are passionate about supporting children and families in Texas through The Sergio & Angela Garcia Foundation, The UGLI Foundation and FORE Kids ATX.

While these ancillary events are taking place throughout Opening Weekend, qualifying matches will begin at 10 a.m. on each day. Twenty-four players will compete through two rounds for a spot in the main draw.

In 2023 across the Hologic WTA Tour, a qualifier went on to reach the semifinals on 10 occasions, with four advancing to the finals and one claiming a title. 

As the Main Draw competition gets underway, Stearns will headline the first annual “College Night” at the ATX Open on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The Longhorn legend who led the school to back-to-back NCAA team titles while also winning the singles title in 2022, will return to the ATX Open where she won her first career WTA main draw match in 2023 and went on to reach the quarterfinals. 

ATX Open tickets are on sale now at www.atxopen.com.