The Sunshine swing commenced with two exciting tournaments in Merida and Austin last week.
Mexico saw its first-time champion, while Texas celebrated a local winner.
This served as an excellent prelude to the Sunshine Double, starting this week in Indian Wells.
Below is a detailed recap of the happenings on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz last week, highlighting champions, memorable matches, and significant off-court moments.
Star of the Week
Cristina Bucsa
It was a breakthrough week for Cristina Bucsa.
The 28-year-old has achieved various successes on the tour, including eight doubles titles and reaching the fourth round of the US Open last year; however, this marked her first singles title.
The Spaniard only lost one set en route to the title in Merida and secured her first victory over a Top 10 player, defeating Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals. (Details below.)
By winning this 500-level title, Bucsa rose 32 spots in the PIF WTA Rankings, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 31.
Feel-Good Story of the Week
Peyton Stearns: A Homegrown Champion
Although from Ohio, Peyton Stearns became a legend in Austin in 2022 by being the first University of Texas player to clinch the NCAA Division 1 singles title.
She further enhanced her legacy last week by winning her second WTA Tour title at the ATX Open in her adopted city. (Three years back, this event was where she recorded her first official tour-level win.)
Cheered on by her loyal fans, including a notable spectator (more on that below), Stearns triumphed in three grueling three-set matches, eventually beating Taylor Townsend 7-6 (8), 7-5 in a hard-fought championship.
Additionally, she revealed her top three favorite eateries in Austin for future visits!
Match of the Week
Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva vs. Magda Linette, Merida Second Round
After winning the second set in a close tiebreaker, Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva surged to a 5-2 lead in the final set. Magda Linette rallied to even the score at 5-all, but Jimenez Kasintseva clinched the last two games, winning 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-5 after an epic 3 hours and 20 minutes.
Her run to the quarterfinals in Merida propelled Jimenez Kasintseva to No. 97 in the PIF WTA Rankings, making her the first player from Andorra to enter the Top 100.
Upset of the Week
Cristina Bucsa defeats Jasmine Paolini, Merida Semifinals
While the match may not have seemed shocking from a performance standpoint, Bucsa’s victory is surprising given her previous unsuccessful attempts to defeat a Top 10 player. Bucsa had never bested a Top 10 opponent before, despite previously defeating Paolini in 2024.
At the time of their encounter, there was a 56-rank gap between them in the PIF WTA Rankings, yet Bucsa secured a 7-5, 6-4 victory.
Social Moment of the Week
Taylor Townsend Energizes Austin
Taylor Townsend was on fire throughout the week, playing fantastic tennis while energizing the audience and engaging in some remarkable crowd interactions post-match.
