Thursday Tune Up

SECONDS PLEASE

The second match on Center Court will feature a pair of young players hungry for seconds. Darja Semenistaja and Austin will forever be joined in friendship and history. The Latvian is still riding high after winning her first Hologic WTA Tour main draw singles match right here in the Texas capital. She battled back to foil the hopes of her 18-year-old Andorran opponent, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva. Will the cool temperatures keep her from a second main draw win? Standing in her way will be China’s Wang Xiyu, the 22-year-old searching for her second career singles title. 

DEUCES AND DIAMONDS

Two 2023 semifinalists will be vying for a spot in this year’s quarterfinal. Danielle Collins, who was ousted last year by eventual champion Marta Kostyuk, will face a fellow American Katie Volynets for the first time. The contrast of styles will be a treat for the fans. Collins, who loves to attack and dictate, will be tested by Volyets’ ability to chase and retrieve. In unrelated news, Danielle Collins made no secret of the fact that her ideal going away gift of choice would be the very costly kind that sparkles because, in her words, “this girl ain’t cheap.” Do with that as you please.

SIX ALREADY?

Anastasija Sevastova is scheduled to start her match at 6 p.m. The question is, how will she be holding up twelve hours after her morning wake-up call? The new mom disclosed to a full room at the inaugural ATX Open Ladies Day Brunch, that her precious baby girl, Alexandra, doubles as her daily alarm. We have no idea what time Sloane Stephens rises, but we know she is always ready for a duel under the Austin lights. The Grand Slam champion will be looking to equal her result from a year ago of reaching the quarterfinals. The two have played four times. The results? Stephens. Sevastova. Stephens. Sevastova. Will you be cheering for that pattern to continue?

SLEEPERS AND SLIPPERS

In the night cap, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova takes on Sachia Vickery. That is not a matchup many would have predicted for the ATX Open round of sixteen. But we love Cinderella stories. For Vickery, the American qualifier, a win would equal her best result on tour. What better place for it? Schmiedlova is looking to take out her second US player in as many matches. She disappointed a lot of Texas Longhorns fans by defeating their hero, Peyton Stearns two nights ago. What better place to do it?