CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

Lanlana Tararudee arrived in Austin unsure whether she would even make it into the qualifying draw. Six days later, she is into the final of the Austin125.

Currently ranked No. 124 in the world, a career high, the Thai has won six ITF singles titles. In the last few weeks, she has qualified for the Australian Open, reached the semifinals of the WTA 125 Mumbai Open in February, and qualified for Indian Wells. Now, after coming through qualifying here in Austin, she has a chance to make an already memorable week even bigger.

Her path to the final began with a 6-1, 6-1 qualifying win over Malaika Rapolu. She then defeated Dalma Gálfi 6-4, 7-6, 5th seed Caty McNally 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, Anastasia Zakharova in the quarterfinals by a score of 6-3, 6-4, and 6th seed Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 7-6 in the semifinals. She now faces wildcard Bianca Andreescu. 

Andreescu has put together an impressive week in Austin. Currently ranked No. 165 in the world, the Canadian reached a career-high of No. 4 and has won three WTA singles titles, including Indian Wells, the Canadian Open, and the 2019 US Open, where she won the title by defeating Serena Williams in the final.

In Austin, her run to the championship match began with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over third seed Solana Sierra. She then defeated Austin125 defending champion Renata Zarazúa 6-3, 7-5, followed by a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over teenage phenom Emerson Jones. In the semifinals, Andreescu took down Paula Badosa 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to book her place in the final.

The championship match will begin not before 2 PM, following the doubles final which starts at 1 PM. 

Second seeds Hao-Ching Chan and Miyu Kato are through to the doubles final. Chan, a former world No. 5 in doubles, has reached one Grand Slam doubles final and three mixed doubles finals, while Kato owns five WTA doubles titles and won the 2023 French Open mixed doubles crown. This will be Chan and Kato’s first WTA 125 final together.

Awaiting them in the championship match are Isabelle Haverlag and Sabrina Santamaria. The pair have put together a fabulous run this week, first knocking out the top seeds and then cruising past Petra Marcinko and Aldila Sutjiadi 6-1, 6-3 to book their place in the final.