Iva Jović Dominates Anna Blinkova in ATX Open Opener

Second seed Jović cruises past winless Blinkova in first-round match

Feb. 24, 2026 at 2:18am

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Second-seeded Iva Jović made quick work of Anna Blinkova in the first round of the 2026 ATX Open, winning in straight sets. Jović, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season, continued her impressive form by dispatching the struggling Blinkova, who remains winless in 2026.

Why it matters

Jović's victory sets up a potential deep run at the ATX Open, a key warm-up event ahead of the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments. Meanwhile, Blinkova's continued struggles raise questions about her form and ability to turn her season around.

The details

Jović, who reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open earlier this year, dominated Blinkova throughout the match. The young American won 72.8% of her service games and 48.4% of her return games, while Blinkova struggled, winning just 46.4% of her service games and 18.5% of her return games. Jović also saved 58.7% of the break points she faced and converted 51.7% of her own break point opportunities.

  • The first-round match took place on February 24, 2026 at the Westwood Country Club in Austin, Texas.

The players

Iva Jović

A rising young American player who has broken into the WTA Top 20 this season, reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Anna Blinkova

A Russian player who has struggled mightily in 2026, remaining winless across four events so far this season.

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What they’re saying

“Iva has really taken her game to the next level this season. She's playing with a lot of confidence and poise, and it showed today against a tough opponent in Anna.”

— Martina Navratilova, Tennis Analyst (Tennis Channel)

What’s next

Jović will face the winner of the match between Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Talia Gibson in the second round of the ATX Open.

The takeaway

Jović's dominant performance over the struggling Blinkova demonstrates her potential to make a deep run at the ATX Open and build momentum heading into the upcoming Grand Slam events. Blinkova, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to turn her season around after a difficult start.