Match Details
Fixture: Taylor Townsend vs (Q) Nikola Bartunkova
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Date: February 25, 2026
Tournament: ATX Open
Round: Second Round (Round of 16)
Venue: Westwood Country Club, Austin, Texas, USA
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Hard
Prize Money: $283,347
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports
Taylor Townsend vs Nikola Bartunkova preview
Taylor Townsend will face qualifier Nikola Bartunkova in the second round of the ATX Open 2026.
Townsend kicked off her run in Austin against lucky loser Linda Fruhvirtova. The American initially recovered from a break deficit in the first set but couldn’t do the same once again, which cost her the opener.
Townsend was on the brink of defeat in the second set. However, she rallied from a break down twice and saved a match point to force a tie-break. She outplayed Fruhvirtova with ease in the tie-break to take the set. She overcame a break deficit in the third set as well, and broke her rival’s serve in the 12th game to score a 4-6, 7-6 (3), 7-5 win.
Bartunkova booked her spot in the ATX Open main draw with wins over Mariia Tkacheva and Louisa Chirico. She was up against Katie Volynets in the first round. The Cech youngster took control of the first set with an early break of serve. Despite her opponent saving three set points towards the end, she ultimately clinched the set on her fourth set point.
The second set started with four consecutive breaks of serve. Volynets snapped the trend with a hold, and then snagged another break to go 4-2 up. Bartunkova bagged the next three games to go 5-4 up.
However, Bartunkova failed to serve out the match despite a couple of match points. She recovered quickly and broke Volynets’ serve once again to go 6-5 up, and then closed out the contest for a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Taylor Townsend vs Nikola Bartunkova head-to-head
This will be the first meeting between them, so the head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
Taylor Townsend vs Nikola Bartunkova odds
(Odds via BetMGM)
Taylor Townsend vs Nikola Bartunkova prediction
Townsend’s comeback win over Fruhvirtova marked her first main draw singles win this year, and also her first since the US Open 2025. She will now aim to make the quarterfinals in Austin for the first time, after her second-round finish in 2024.
Bartunkova survived a spirited challenge from Volynets in the second set to get over the finish line. She improved her record this season to 5-2 with the latest win. She made the third round of the Australian Open with wins over Daria Kasatkina and Belinda Bencic, and followed it up with a quarterfinal in Ostrava.
Bartunkova hasn’t dropped a set right from the qualifying rounds. She has two huge reasons to win against Townsend. It’s her 20th birthday on Wednesday, and a win ensures her top 100 debut. Given her form, she’s likely to celebrate her birthday with a win.
Pick: Nikola Bartunkova to win in straight sets.
Taylor Townsend vs Nikola Bartunkova betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have at least 20 games.
Tip 2: Bartunkova to win at least one set with a score of 6-4.
Edited by Rohit