DALLAS — Former U.S. Open finalist Madison Keys and former U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens will kick off the Women’s Tennis Classic on Saturday, Feb. 4, the Dallas Open announced Friday.
Keys and Stephens will play a singles match and a set of doubles featuring two of the SMU Women’s Tennis players.
The singles match between Keys and Stephens replaces a previously announced match between legendary tennis star Venus Williams and Danielle Collins.
Williams is unable to play in the Women’s Tennis Classic due to injury that forced her out of the Australian Open, and Collins is no longer able to appear due to a scheduling conflict, Dallas Open officials said in a press release.
“We are thrilled to announce that Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens will join us at the 2023 Dallas Open, playing in the Women’s Tennis Classic,” said Peter Lebedevs, Dallas Open tournament director. “In addition to some of the best male players in the sport expected to compete in Dallas, having two of the best American women players just adds to a fantastic week of tennis.”
The match between Keys and Stephens still promises to be dynamic, however. Between them, Keys and Stephens have combined for 13 singles titles and have faced each other seven times (Stephens leads the series, 5-2), including the 2017 U.S. Open Final, in which Stephens defeated Keys, 6-3, 6-0.
“I love playing against Sloane,” Keys said. “We are close friends and always have some amazing matches against each other. Looking forward to another competitive match at the Women’s Tennis Classic.”
“I’m excited to be a part of the Women’s Tennis Classic at the Dallas Open,” Stephens said. “It’s an honor to share the court with a great friend and competitor like Madison, along with the SMU athletes.”
The 2022 Dallas Open last February marked the return of ATP Tour level tennis to Dallas for the first time in more than 30 years. The tournament featured over 60 world-class ATP Tour professionals and was televised worldwide to more than 100 countries.
More Texas headlines:
