Qualifying Kicks Off at the ATX Open

A Preview of Opening Weekend at the ATX Open: Saturday’s Matchups

Qualifying at the ATX Open kicks off Saturday morning with two veteran players in the first match on Center Court. At 11 a.m., second-seeded Rebecca Marino, a 34-year-old Canadian ranked No. 110 on the Hologic WTA Tour, will face the 32-year-old Brit Heather Watson, ranked No. 205. Marino reached a career-high No. 38 in 2011 before retiring from 2013 to 2018. A pioneer in mental health awareness for athletes, Marino reached the semifinals in Mumbai earlier this month and won a 125-level event in Michigan in November. Watson, long under the spotlight as a British hope, was once ranked as high as No. 32. She did win the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon with Henri Kontinen of Finand in 2016.

In the last match on Center Court, top-seeded Cristina Busca of Spain will face Baltimore native Sophie Chang. Busca, 27, is ranked No. 100 in singles and No. 25 in doubles — she won five doubles titles last year and a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games. Third-seeded Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland, a silver medalist in doubles at the 2021 Tokyo Games, will face Irene Burillo Escorihuela of Spain in the second match on Court 11. In the last match on Grandstand, fourth-seeded Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand will face Christina McHale, who was given a wild card as the 23-year-old Ohioan continues her comeback from elbow injuries.

Players who win two qualifying matches advance to the main draw.