WTA Austin 2026 Analysis, Preview & Title Predictions

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23 Feb 2026
Site Editor 23 Feb 2026
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  • ATX Open returns to Austin as a key WTA 250 event
  • Jessica Pegula headlines as the sole Top 10 seed
  • Iva Jovic poses a strong challenge with recent form
Iva Jovic
Young Iva Jovic emerges as the title favourite in Austin this week (credit: Getty)

The ATX Open returns to Austin in 2026 as an increasingly important stop on the early-season WTA calendar. Played on outdoor hard courts at the Westwood Country Club, the WTA 250 event offers valuable points and momentum ahead of the bigger events to come in March.

With a 32-player draw and just one Top 10 presence in the field, the tournament feels wide open. Factors such as travel fatigue, match load from the previous week, and comfort in familiar conditions could prove just as influential as ranking when it comes to shaping the title race.

Tournament Overview & Format

The ATX Open is a WTA 250 tournament played on outdoor hard courts in Austin, Texas, forming part of the early-season North American stretch. Now firmly established on the calendar, it offers a valuable opportunity for players to secure points and confidence before the larger events in March.

Draw & Structure 
  • Singles Draw: 32 players 
  • Doubles Draw: 16 teams 
  • Match Format: Best of three sets 
  • Seeds: 8 seeded players 
  • Matches Required to Win Title: 5

With no first-round byes and a compact schedule, players must be sharp immediately. The relatively quick hard courts and short recovery windows can quickly expose those carrying fatigue or lacking match rhythm.

Venue & Playing Conditions

The ATX Open is staged at the Westwood Country Club in Austin and played on outdoor hard courts that lean medium to medium-fast in pace. The surface generally rewards players who take the ball early and dictate from the baseline, while still allowing competitive rallies rather than ultra-short points.

Late-February conditions in Texas are typically mild, with daytime temperatures around 18 to 22°C and cooler evenings under the lights. The relatively low humidity and stable weather create clean hitting conditions, placing emphasis on first-strike patterns and efficient service games.

FactorDetails
VenueWestwood Country Club, Austin
SurfaceOutdoor Hard
Court PaceMedium to Medium-Fast
ClimateMild winter conditions
Typical Temperature18 to 22°C (day), cooler at night

Top Seeds

Jessica Pegula headlines the 2026 ATX Open as both the defending champion and the only Top 10 player in the field. On ranking and hard-court pedigree alone, she stands clearly above the rest, but the short turnaround from a deep run the previous week adds an intriguing layer of uncertainty.


Behind her, the seeded group is tightly packed and highly competitive, creating genuine opportunity for a breakthrough. With no overwhelming depth of elite hard-court specialists, consistency and physical freshness could prove just as decisive as reputation.


SeedPlayerCurrent Rank
1Jessica Pegula5
2Iva Jovic20
3Wang Xinyu33
4Peyton Stearns58
5Varvara Gracheva60
6Anna Bondar65
7Caty McNally68
8Petra Marcinko69

Players to Watch

Jessica Pegula ★★☆☆☆ 
Pegula arrives as defending champion and clear statistical favourite, but context matters. A heavy workload last week raises legitimate questions about physical and mental recovery. While her baseline solidity and return quality give her a higher floor than anyone else in the field, the market may price her closer to peak condition than reality suggests. 

Iva Jovic ★★★★☆ 
Jovic looks like the player trending hardest in the right direction. Confidence from her breakthrough title in Guadalajara and steady ranking progress make her a serious contender here. If Pegula shows any vulnerability, Jovic has both the current form and court-suited aggression to capitalise and push for the trophy. 

Peyton Stearns ★☆☆☆☆ 
Stearns benefits from familiarity with American hard courts and prior success in Austin. She may not enter as a standout statistical favourite, but home support and comfort in conditions give her upset potential against higher seeds. 

Bianca Vanessa Andreescu ★☆☆☆☆ 
Andreescu remains the ultimate high-variance option. Fitness doubts temper expectations, yet her natural shot-making ability still ranks among the best in this field. If she strings together physical stability and early wins, her ceiling is higher than most unseeded players in the draw.

How to Watch WTA Austin 2026 Live (Free)

No cable? No problem. All you need is a betting account and a screen. WTA Austin is streamed live in HD by top bookmakers — no extra subscription needed.

🎬 Quick Setup in 30 Seconds: 
1️⃣ Sign up at [Stake] or [bet365]
2️⃣ Deposit $1 or equivalent (no need to place a bet right away) 
3️⃣ Go to Live Tennis → WTA Austin → Hit “Watch Live” 
That’s it. You’re watching Main Court live from anywhere. 

WTA Austin Live Streams

Verdict

Iva Jovic stands out as the preferred outright pick given her form and fresher profile, especially with Jessica Pegula facing a tough turnaround that makes her vulnerable to an early upset at short odds. Pegula could be worth opposing in round one if the price is inflated. 

For bigger returns, Peyton Stearns and Bianca Andreescu offer appealing value to make deeper runs if momentum swings their way.

Best Bet1: Iva Jovic Tournament Winner @225.00 at Stake.com - 3 Units
Best Bet2: Peyton Stearns Tournament Winner @1150.0 at Stake.com - 2 Units
Best Bet3: Bianca Andreescu Tournament Winner @2900.0 at Stake.com - 1 Unit
Iva Jovic
Tournament Winner
@225.00 - 3 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
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Peyton Stearns
Tournament Winner
@1150.0 - 2 Units
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

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Bianca Andreescu
Tournament Winner
@2900.0 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS

Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.

Bet at Stake.com