Drama at the ATX Open

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February 28, 2023
February 28, 2023

WTA 250 ATX Open

Top of the morning to you. It’s Tuesday, and today we’re talking tennis in Texas…

The inaugural ATX Open has already created headlines in Austin Texas, with Former U.S. Open winner Emma Raducanu pulling out due to illness, and 151st-ranked Mirjam Bjorklund upsetting Alycia Parks in three sets on Day 1.

Two key matchups today will see Magda Linette take on Varvara Gracheva, and Danielle Collins go up against Magdalena Frech at the WTA 250 event.

Magda Linette is riding a wave of good form after reaching the semifinal of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of Merida Open last week. 

Linette lost to the eventual finalists of both competitions the 31 year old - ranked 21st in the world - will come into the match confident of another strong showing in Texas.

Varvara Gracheva made the most of her lucky loser qualification in Merida last week, with a big win against Tatjana Maria and then narrowly missing out on an upset against Sloane Stephens as well. 

22 year old Gracheva will make her work for it, but expect a win from the more experienced Linette in this matchup today.

In today’s other standout game, Magdalena Frech and Danielle Collins will meet for the third time with the head to head record 2-0 in the American’s favour.

Frech has yet to reach the main draw of a competition so far this year, and the 25 year old arrives in Austin having lost in straight sets to Tereza Martincová in the qualifying rounds of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

World No.38 Danielle Collins today is 5-6 on the year so far, having lined up against a succession of tough opposition such as Elena Rybakina and Iga Świątek.

The 29 year old has been struggling with shoulder since the end of last season, but she should have enough in the tank to make it 3-0 against Frech in Austin this afternoon.

Linnette and Gracheva face off at 12:15 p.m. ET, and Collins and Frech are scheduled to clash at 7 p.m. ET. You can catch all the action on Tennis Channel and TVA Sports.

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