Sloane Stephens to headline new WTA event in Texas
In 2022, the WTA Finals were held in Texas, and despite a half-empty arena, tennis will return to Texas as a new event is set to be held in Austin.
The brand-new tournament will be called ATX Open, and it will be held at the Westwood Country Club. The first two players were already announced as Sloane Stephens and Danielle Collins should both compete at the tournament that will start on the 27th of February 2023.
It's an interesting addition to the WTA calendar, as the tournament should be held simultaneously with the Monterrey Open, which is a WTA 500 tournament, and will likely attract more fans.
On the other hand, ahead of the Sunshine Double - the Indian Wells and the Miami Open, this tournament will serve as a great preparation for all the players who want to be in the United States already a few weeks before heading to Indian Wells and Miami.
As one of the first two players that signed up for the tournament, former Grand Slam champion, Sloane Stephens was happy that another tournament held on the US soil was added to the calendar.
"It is always exciting to participate in new tournaments that have big visions. For me personally, Austin is a great city, and playing on home soil is always special.”
According to Christo Van Rensburg, director of event organizer DropShot Series Tournament, the organizers expected a large interest from the American players, given that they would get a chance to showcase their qualities in front of the home crowd.
On top of that, they don't have to travel a lot, as the tournament is right in the heart of the United States, and relatively close to Indian Wells.
"We anticipated American players would welcome the opportunity to play on home soil, and these early commitments certainly validate that."
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