Terrific Tuesday Delivers

Five of the seven Americans in action were winners during a busy Tuesday at the ATX Open.

Second seed Sloane Stephens and No. 3 Danielle Collins led the winning ways and were joined by Katie Volynets, Sachia Vickery and Taylor Townsend. Despite the home country support, Peyton Stearns and Alycia Parks were defeated Tuesday.

For the second year in a row at the ATX Open, former University of Texas star Stearns battled in a three-set opening round match. This year, the Longhorn legend did not come out on top, as Anna Karolina Schmiedlova prevailed 6-2 4-6 7-5.

After splitting the opening two sets, Stearns pulled ahead 5-3 in the final set, but the three-time title winner Schmiedlova won the match’s final four games to seal the victory.

Next up for Schmiedlova is another American, Vickery, a qualifier who was a 6-2 6-4 winner over Rebecca Marino Tuesday. Vickery defeated Schmiedlova just last week at the WTA 125 in Puerto Vallarta.

Stephens and Collins, a quarterfinalist and semifinalist, respectively at the inaugural ATX Open, were both straight sets winners. Stephens defeated qualifier Tereza Martincova 6-4 6-0 while Collins closed out the evening with a 7-5 6-2 win over qualifier Oliiva Gadecki.

Volynets continued her winning ways in Austin with a 6-4 7-6(4) win over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. Last year, Volynets reached the final four at the ATX Open, which was her first career semifinal showing.

Townsend came from behind to defeat Fernanda Contreras 3-6 6-2 6-3. Contreras was a two-time state champion while playing at Austin’s Westlake High School.

Townsend, who became a mother in March 2021, was one of two moms to win on Tuesday, joined by Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, a 6-4 6-3 winner over Julia Riera.

Sevastova is playing just her second WTA Tour event since giving birth to her daughter, Alexandra, in December 2022. The former US Open semifinalist returned three weeks ago with a run to the quarterfinals in Romania.

The day was also highlighted by Latvia’s Danja Semenistaja outlasting Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in three sets to get the first WTA Tour match win of her career.