University of Texas Tennis Legend and Austin Fan Favorite, Peyton Stearns, Announces Return to the ATX Open

The former Texas All-American and National Champ returns to the tournament where she won her first WTA Tour matches

AUSTIN, Texas — Peyton Stearns, who led the University of Texas Longhorns to back-to-back NCAA team titles in 2021 and 2022, has announced her commitment to play the ATX Open for the third time. The event will be hosted at Austin’s Westwood Country Club, February 21 – March 1, 2026. Stearns joins defending ATX Open champion and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula in the 2026 field. Also confirmed is Australian standout Ajla Tomljanović, a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, who advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 ATX Open. They will be joined by Iva Jović, the seventeen-year-old American tennis player and rising star, who recently made a run to the semifinals of the AUSTIN125.

DropShot, the tournament promoter, is excited to announce to Austin’s many passionate tennis fans that the annual ATX Open—site of the first WTA All-American final on U.S. soil since 2017 – will welcome some of the world’s top WTA talent for a fourth consecutive year.

As the largest women’s professional sporting event in Austin – and the only tour-level professional women’s tennis tournament held annually in Texas – the ATX Open has established itself as one of the top 250-level women’s tournaments in the world.

The 23-year-old American has continued to fight as one of the most dynamic young talents in the sport. A three-time All-American and the University of Texas’s first NCAA singles champion, Stearns has built on her breakthrough at the inaugural ATX Open—where she earned her first WTA Tour match win and reached her first tour quarterfinal—and Stearns returns to the ATX Open refreshed, motivated, and ready to build on the success that propelled her into the world’s Top 30.

Stearns was a breakout performer at the inaugural ATX Open in 2023, and she went on to reach a career-high ranking of No. 28 and capture her first Hologic WTA Tour singles title in Rabat in 2024.

On her coming return to Austin for the 2026 ATX Open, Stearns said, “I look forward to playing in this tournament all year. I never get tired of playing in front of these amazing fans. The home crowd atmosphere in Austin is electric. I was disappointed when injury kept me from playing in the AUSTIN125 last month. So, knowing that I will get back to playing big time tennis in Austin soon has me very excited. I can’t wait to get back to town early next year. It’s going to be special.”

“Any time Peyton plays in Texas, fans come out just to see her,” said Tournament Director Christo Van Rensburg. “Her professional career really took off at the first ATX Open in 2023, and our fans at Westwood Country Club have strongly supported her from the very beginning. Having her back on the court in Austin will bring even more magic to the tournament.”

Fans can visit ATXOpen.com for a full list of ticketing options, which will include:

 🎾 Single Session Tickets: Enjoy a day of action with access to one session of the tournament.

🎾 Daily Doubles: Get access to both sessions of a single day.

🎾 Duration Packages: Experience all the action with full access throughout the tournament.

🎾 Center Court Suite: A Group Hospitality Package featuring all-inclusive food & beverage, a private hospitality suite and center court seating for up to 10.