The WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz is returning to Europe with the 2026 Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open, marking the inaugural clay-court tournament of the season.
In its 35th iteration, this event celebrates its third year as a WTA 500 tournament. To commemorate the occasion, Linz will showcase a walk of champions in the fan zone.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Linz Open, including dates, draw information, and prize money:
What are the tournament dates?
Main-draw matches in Austria will commence on Monday, April 6, with the singles and doubles finals set for Sunday, April 12. The matches will take place on an indoor clay surface, utilizing a Dunlop clay court ball, marking this as the event’s first year on this surface.
Singles
Qualifiers: April 5-6
First round: April 6-8
Second round: April 8-9
Quarterfinals: April 10
Semifinals: April 11
Final: April 12
Doubles
First round: April 6-8
Quarterfinals: April 8-9
Semifinals: April 10-11
Final: April 12
What about the draws, top seeds, and wild cards?
The Linz tournament will feature a singles draw of 28 players, including 19 direct entrants, four qualifiers, four wild cards, and one special exempt entry. The top four seeds will get a bye into the second round.
World No. 10 Mirra Andreeva, the top 30 replacement player, leads the lineup, followed by defending champion Ekaterina Alexandrova, Clara Tauson, Liudmila Samsonova, and 2024 champion Jelena Ostapenko. Karolina Pliskova will enter the main draw using her protected ranking.
Alexandrala Eala will make her Linz debut and her first appearance on clay this season, while notable European players such as Sorana Cirstea, Jaqueline Cristian, and Sara Bejlek will also be competing. The full draw will be released closer to the tournament start date, which will also include a 16-team doubles draw.
Who are the defending champions?
Alexandrova secured the Linz title in a thrilling final against Dayana Yastremska, winning 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. This victory marked her fifth WTA title and her first at a 500-level event.
In the doubles event, fourth-seeded pair Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani triumphed over the Kichenok twins, achieving their first win as a team.
What are the ranking points and prize money available?
As with all WTA 500 tournaments, 500 ranking points will be available for both the PIF WTA Rankings and the Race to the WTA Finals in Riyadh. A prize pool exceeding €1.04 million ($1.2 million) is on offer, with the singles champion set to receive over €160,000.
Singles (ranking points | prize money)
First round: 1 | €11,309
Second round: 60 | €15,690
Quarterfinal: 108 | €30,495
Semifinal: 195 | €57,395
Finalist: 325 | €99,565
Champion: 500 | €161,310
Doubles (ranking points | prize money)
First round: 1 | €5,910
Quarterfinal: 108 | €9,700
Semifinal: 195 | €18,890
Finalist: 325 | €32,520
Champion: 500 | €53,510
