SMU Players To Participate in 2023 Dallas Open
DALLAS (December 8, 2022) – The Dallas Open today announced that SMU junior tennis player Liam Krall has been awarded a singles main draw wildcard to compete in the 2023 Dallas Open on the ATP Tour. In addition, the tournament announced that SMU seniors Hadley Doyle and Jackie Nylander will play in the inaugural Women’s Tennis Classic, which will open the second-year Dallas Open on Saturday evening, February 4, 2023. The 2023 Dallas Open is scheduled to be played February 5-12 at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at SMU.
Krall will headline the Dallas Open’s “College Night” on Tuesday, Feb. 7. This will be his second competition at the ATP level, as he earned a qualifying wildcard singles spot at last year’s Dallas Open (dropping a competitive match to Jurij Rodionov [7-6(1), 6-3]).
“We are proud to award Liam Krall with a wildcard to compete in the singles main draw at the 2023 Dallas Open,” said Peter Lebedevs, Dallas Open tournament director. “Liam has done a terrific job for the Mustangs the past two seasons and displayed some high-level tennis at last year’s Dallas Open in the singles qualifying. He demonstrates tremendous values and has worn his heart on his sleeve at SMU, and we know he will continue to flourish before taking the next step to the pro level. We look forward to watching Liam play on the big stage again on his home court in front of a full house right here on The Hilltop.”
Krall has been an impact player for the Mustangs since his arrival at SMU. He concluded his first season with a 16-9 overall singles record which included a 5-0 record playing at No.1. He was awarded American Athletic Conference 2021 Freshman of the Year. Krall’s sophomore season had similar success, finishing with a 26-7 overall record and awarded singles All-Conference team. During the Mustangs’ run in the AAC Championship, Krall was named the AAC Championships’ Most Outstanding Player, winning all three of his matches and clinching two of SMU’s victories (semifinal win over USF and final win over Memphis).
“It’s an incredible honor and privilege to be able to revive the wildcard, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to play,” said Bronxville native Liam Krall. “I hope to do my best and can’t wait to play in front of friends and family in February. I can’t be more thankful to all the people who could make this happen!”
Doyle and Nylander: Experienced SMU Seniors
Doyle and Nylander will play in the Women’s Tennis Classic with tennis champion Venus Williams and No. 14 ranked Danielle Collins. Doyle and Nylander have been doubles partners for two consecutive seasons. In the 2020-21 season, they finished 10-8. Their match play advanced in the 2021-22 season earning them a national ranking as high as 33. They finished with a 13-8 overall doubles records with four wins over ranked teams.
“We are thrilled to have Hadley Doyle and Jackie Nylander join us at the inaugural Women’s Tennis Classic at the 2023 Dallas Open,” Lebedevs said. “They are top collegiate tennis talents who have earned this opportunity to play with a legend like Venus Williams and one of the top players in the world in Danielle Collins. It promises to be a fun night and we are anticipating a great crowd.”
Doyle arrived at SMU during the 2020-21 season, finishing 18-6 overall and 6-0 in conference play. She finished the 2021-22 season with a 14-12 record, including a 10-7 dual record. She ended the dual season winning six of her last seven completed matches, all against an opponent in the ITA top-60-ranked teams. Doyle’s success has earned her AAC All-Conference Team (2020, 2021), CoSIDA Academic All District in 2021, as well as AAC Player of the Week (Week of March 13).
Nylander’s story began a year before where she finished the 2019-20 season 10-3, winning all 10 matches in straight sets. She finished the 2020-21 season with a 13-8 overall record and went 5-1 in conference play. In the 2021-22 season, Nylander earned 14 wins including an 11-9 mark in duals and an unblemished 4-0 against AAC opponents. Two of her biggest wins came in the AAC Tournament against ranked opponents. Nylander has been awarded AAC All-Conference Team (2020, 2021), ITA Texas Region Rookie of the year, SMU Athletics Newcomer of the Year, AAC Player of the Week (Week of February 11).
“We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to play in the Women’s Tennis Classic,” said Hadley Doyle. “Jackie and I both are so excited to be doing this together! It will be a great memory to have forever.”
Limited individual tickets and premium seating options for the 2023 Dallas Open will go on sale at a later date. Information on the tournament can be found at www.dallasopen.com.
The 2022 Dallas Open last February marked the return of ATP Tour level tennis to Dallas for the first time in more than 30 years. The tournament featured over 60 world-class ATP Tour professionals and was televised worldwide to more than 100 countries.
About The Dallas Open
The Dallas Open is an ATP Tour 250 men’s tournament that will play its second year in Dallas on February 5-12, 2023 at the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at SMU. It will be the only ATP Tour indoor championship in the United States, and features men’s top world tennis players in singles and doubles competition. The tournament, previously held as the New York Open, is one of the longest-running American tournaments on the ATP Tour. Its rich history features some of the top names in tennis, including legends John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Michael Chang, and Andy Murray, and a current generation of stars like John Isner, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and Reilly Opelka.
