Oksana Selekhmeteva defeated Alycia Parks in the first round of the ATX Open, then engaged the crowd with a request for local cowgirl boot recommendations. The 23-year-old Russian advanced to face Kamilla Rakhimova next. Rakhimova marked a milestone by securing Uzbekistan's first WTA win since 2018.
In the opening round of the ATX Open on February 23, 2026, Oksana Selekhmeteva, ranked No. 76, overcame Alycia Parks with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. This victory marked a strong start for Selekhmeteva in Austin, contrasting her 2025 experience where she exited in qualifying due to feeling unwell.
During her on-court interview, Selekhmeteva embraced the local culture, asking the Center Court audience for suggestions on where to buy cowgirl boots. "I'm honestly looking where to buy the boots," she said. "So please, people, tell me where to buy the boots. I mean, I already got the hat yesterday from the players' party, but I'm looking for boots." She also mentioned enjoying the local barbecue the previous year and planning to do so again.
Selekhmeteva's next opponent is Kamilla Rakhimova, who upset sixth seed Anna Bondar 6-3, 7-5 in her debut main-draw match of 2026. This win was Rakhimova's first under the Uzbek flag and the first tour-level victory for a player representing Uzbekistan since Sabina Sharipova reached the second round in Nanchang in 2018.
The two have met three times previously, with Rakhimova leading 2-1, though Selekhmeteva won their most recent encounter 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 in Turkey last year.
The ATX Open, one of two WTA Tour events launching the Sunshine Swing, features Jessica Pegula as the top seed and defending champion. Pegula faces Rebecca Sramkova on Tuesday. Other notable seeds include Australian Open quarterfinalist Iva Jovic, Wang Xinyu, and Peyton Stearns, a former NCAA champion at the University of Texas. Venus Williams is also in the draw, scheduled to play Ajla Tomljanovic in the first round.
In another first-round match, qualifier Nikola Bartunkova defeated Katie Volynets in straight sets, converting her fourth set point in each.
