Elizabeth Mandlik is set to compete against Whitney Osuigwe in the opening round of the ATX Open, a WTA 250 event taking place at the Westwood Country Club in Austin, USA. The match will be played on outdoor hard courts, promising an exciting contest between the two qualifiers.
Mandlik’s journey to the first round includes victories over notable competitors. She secured her spot in the tournament after overcoming 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady in a tough three-set match and followed that up with a commanding win against Linda Fruhvirtova. Notably, Mandlik has already made waves this season, reaching a final in San Diego on the ITF circuit.
On the other hand, Osuigwe also enters the competition as a qualifier, having defeated Carmen Andreea Herea and Yue Yuan to earn her place. Despite a disappointing attempt to qualify for the Australian Open, where she suffered a significant loss to Nikola Bartunkova, Osuigwe’s performance has seen improvement, highlighted by a semi-final appearance in Vero Beach earlier this season.
The head-to-head record between Mandlik and Osuigwe adds an intriguing element to their matchup. They have faced each other three times before in lower-level events, with each match going to a deciding set. This history suggests a closely contested battle as they meet on the WTA Tour for the first time.
Experts predict a competitive match, with a potential tip being that both players may win a set during their encounter, reflecting the evenly matched nature of their past performances. Fans can tune in to watch the match on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and on the Tennis Channel in the USA. Tickets for the event are available through the designated links.