At the Dow Tennis Classic, fans have an opportunity to watch top women tennis players as they play on the hard, indoor courts at the Greater Midland Tennis Center. This center is in Midland, Michigan. The event will take place in February again, following several years in a later time slot. The earlier date will make it a showcase for rising WTA talent.
Why the Dow Tennis Classic is important for tennis fans
The Dow Tennis Classic gives U.S. fans a chance to watch some top women’s tennis at an event that isn’t a grand slam. Many upcoming stars play in the event so fans can see future stars in action. It is also a good event for players who return after a break or have suffered injuries, as it helps them rebuild their confidence.
The event is accessible for U.S. fans and has a strong community focus. Players even go to local schools to interact with children. The tickets are affordable in comparison with some of the Grand Slam events, and the intimacy of the venue is a plus. Michigan sportsbooks offer opportunities to bet on the matches. Gamblers can place their bets in person or online by using a casino app on their mobile phones.
Three top 100 players will take part
The players this year come from eight different countries and include three players who rank in the top 100 in the world.
Ashlyn Krueger is one of the upcoming stars to watch at No. 62 in the top 100. She first entered the top 100 in 2023 as a teenager, which is what Coco Gauff did in 2019. Krueger won the Japan Women’s Open in 2023, and in 2025, she was runner-up in the Abu Dhabi Open.
Caty McNally, another American player ranked at No. 85, has done very well in the Dow Tennis Classic, winning it in 2019 and 2022. She will play again this year.
Francesca Jones, from Great Britain, is another promising young talent who deserves recognition. She currently ranks at No. 71 and won two WTA 125 titles in 2025. This year has hardly begun, and she has experienced a win against a player in the top 15.
Sports like tennis have created the rich athletes seen today, and young stars who manage to rise to the top can become very wealthy.
Wild card draws
Two young wild card draws are Ellie Coleman and Kennedy Drenser-Hagmann. Coleman is a Midland native who attended Duke University and will bring some local excitement to the tournament. Drenser-Hagmann comes from southeast Michigan and is a top-tier national recruit.
Others to watch
There was a time when Canadian player Bianca Andreescu was in the No. 4 position in the world rankings and the champion of the U.S. Open. She has dropped down to No. 162 after suffering various injuries. Playing at the Dow Tennis Classic this year, she will obviously try her best to improve her current ranking.
Players ranked in the top 150 who will compete
Catherine Dolehide and Madison Brengle are two American players currently ranking in the top 140 who will compete. Brengle was a previous winner of the event. Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume and the Czech Republic’s Darja Vidmanova will also participate.
Winners in previous years
In 2019, Coco Gauff, who is currently No. 3, competed at the event, and several other top players are also past competitors. In 2023, Anna Kalinskaya won, and in 2024, it was Rebecca Marino’s turn. Upcoming stars are eager to showcase their talents at this event because they have seen the benefits that other participants have experienced. The players mentioned here won’t be participating in 2026, so it leaves the way open for other tennis stars to make their mark.
Matches to watch
It will be interesting to watch C. McNally and M. Brengle’s matches, as they are both past winners of the event. Ashlyn Kruger and Francesca Jones are both fine young players whose matches will be entertaining to watch. Watching the women ranked in the top 150 compete to improve their world rankings is also likely to be exciting.