2025 ATX Open Austin WTA Entry List: Pegula, Stearns, Maria & More

The 2025 ATX Open, which will run from February 24th to March 2nd, contains an interesting entry list, but one that was weakened because of a controversial WTA regulation.

Tournament organizers for the event in Texas had been promoting having Madison Keys on the entry list for months. This was before the 29-year-old's stunning run to the Australian Open title, overcoming Aryna Sabalenka to win her maiden Grand Slam title.

That success meant having her at the ATX Open would have undoubtedly increased ticket sales. But the fans were denied an opportunity to watch her because WTA rules state that 250-level tournaments cannot have more than two Top 10 players.

Keys returned to the Top 10 and equaled her career-high ranking of No. 7 by winning the Australian Open. Unfortunately, she cannot compete in Texas because a Top-10 player with a better ranking is already on the entry list.

That player is world No. 6 Jessica Pegula. Some may have been surprised by her decision to compete at a WTA 250 event the week before the Indian Wells Open, but last year's US Open runner-up feels that is the right move for her.

Pegula will hope to have shaken off the disappointment of losing in the third-round of the Australian Open by the time she competes at the ATX Open. She fell to an inspired Olga Danilovic, who thrived in the slow nighttime conditions in Melbourne.

The American No. 2 started her season positively by finishing as the runner-up to Keys at the Adelaide International. Interestingly, Pegula said her compatriot would win the Australian Open if she played at the same level as the third set of their final, and that is precisely what happened.

There is no escaping from the fact that Pegula is a significant favorite to win the ATX Open and is the highest-ranked player on the entry list by far. However, there are still some talented players who could challenge her.

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Peyton Stearns, the second-highest-ranked player on the entry list, showed how dangerous she can be at the Australian Open. She pushed Emma Navarro very hard in Melbourne and only narrowly lost in the deciding set.

Stearns was also inches away from beating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka at the 2024 Indian Wells Open. She had four match points to win a match of stunning quality, but Sabalenka somehow fought back to triumph.

Taylor Townsend, always a fun player to watch, is also on the ATX Open entry list. The American, who won the Australian Open women's doubles title last week with Katerina Siniakova, has a powerful game that incorporates much variety.

Former Wimbledon semifinalist Tatjana Maria's playing style is probably the most unique on the WTA Tour. That usually makes her matches interesting, and the veteran German hopes to go far at the tournament in Texas.

Caroline Dolehide, Ajla Tomljanovic, Lucia Bronzetti, Sorana Cirstea, and Laura Siegemund are some of the other players on the ATX Open entry list.

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2025 ATX Open Austin WTA Players Entry List: