ATX Open: Magda Linette, Alycia Parks set stage for seeds’ exit in 1R

Top seed Magda Linette exited the ATX Open in the first round on Tuesday. Varvara Gracheva upset the Pole, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 29 minutes.

Gracheva won 69% of her first-serve points to Linette’s 63%. She also won 43% of her second-serve points to Linette’s 40%. The American went on to save 10 of the 14 break points she faced while converting six break points on Linette’s serve. Gracheva went on to finish the match with 106 points to Linette’s 102.

In the second round, she will play Anna Blinkova. Blinkova defeated American qualifier, Ann Li, 6-4, 6-4 in their first-round match.

ATX Open: Alycia Parks’ fortunes have turned since Lyon

Earlier on Monday, seventh seed Alycia Parks suffered an upset in the first round in Austin. Swedish wildcard Mirjam Bjorklund ousted the American 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in two hours and 15 minutes.

Parks had 14 aces and 11 double faults to Bjorklund’s zero aces and one double fault. Parks also won 80% of her first-serve points to her opponent’s 64%. Bjorklund, however, won 65% of her second-serve points and 56% points on return on Parks’ second serve. Bjorklund also had better success as compared to Parks when it came to saving and converting break points. The world no. 151 saved nine of the 11 break points she faced while converting all three break points she had on Parks’ serve.

Next up for Bjorklund is Parks’ compatriot, Peyton Stearns. Stearns, who received a wildcard defeated British qualifier Katie Boulter 7-6(5), 6-7(2), 7-6(5). Meanwhile, Parks has now lost three of the four matches she’s played after having won her maiden career event in Lyon.

On Tuesday, at the ATX Open, four other seeds advanced to the second round. Fourth seed Danielle Collins came from a set down to beat Magdalena Frech 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4. Fifth seed Sloane Stephens defeated Taylor Townsend in an all-American clash, 6-3, 6-3. Eighth seed Marta Kostyuk advanced after beating Dalma Galfi, 7-5, 6-1. Lastly, third seed Anastasia Potapova won against local wildcard, Elizabeth Mandlik, 6-2, 6-0.