Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger Prediction (February 26th, 2026)
The 2026 ATX Open rolls into the round of 16, where several tight tennis matches await us. One that could be worth targeting is a battle between Anastasia Zakharova and Ashlyn Krueger, where FanDuel has Krueger prices as a slight -160 favorite.
Krueger knocked off 7th-seeded Caty McNally to get here, as she dominated (6-1) in the first set before outlasting her opponent in a wild 7-6 finish. Zakharova’s path here was even harder, as she got past Mary Stoiana, but needed three sets to do it.
Zakharova actually found herself down 1-0 after dropping the first set (3-6), but rallied to force a third set and won with two dominant efforts.
So, where does that leave us as both ladies look to punch their ticket to the ATX Open quarter-finals? I’ll help you figure that out, as I comb through the latest odds, highlight the best bets, and wrap things up with a final Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger prediction.
Match Details
- Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, approximately 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Caroline Dolehide will take place at the Westwood Country Club in Austin, Texas, USA
- Event: ATX Open
- Round: Round of 32
- Surface: Hard Court
Current Betting Odds & Market Snapshot
Check out the Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger odds over at FanDuel:
- Anastasia Zakharova: +130
- Ashlyn Krueger: -160
- Zakharova Games Won: Over 11.5 (-154) | Under 11.5 (+110)
- Krueger Games Won: Over 12.5 (+120) | Under 12.5 (-167)
What the Odds Tell Us
Krueger is a slight favorite to get the win in this matchup. The odds are tight as both players are very young and lack experience.
Krueger is favored to win in straight sets, but you can get Zakharova’s Under at plus money with the tight pricing suggesting a very thin gap between these two players.
Matchup Preview & Player Profiles
Anastasia Zakharova
The 24-year old Zakharova has 16 career ITF titles, but none at the WTA level. She’s been quite successful in a short amount of time, racking up 275 career wins, with her best grand slam run coming in the quarter-finals of the 2025 French Open.
Zakharova has shown signs of growth, as she beat Donna Vekic at last year’s Queen’s Club Championships. She also reached the semifinals at Tennis in the Land last August.
The right-handed Zakharova deploys a strong two-handed backhand and loves to hang out around the baseline. She offers a counterpunching approach and strong defense, along with a stellar return rate.
Zakharova excels on hard courts, and she moves around the court solidly, allowing her to get the better of her opponent in longer exchanges. Her serve is not top shelf, however.
Ashlyn Krueger
The 21-year-old Krueger is the higher-ranked player nationally, and unlike her opponent, she has some hardware at the WTA level. Krueger has plenty of wins (161) to her name, while she won the 2023 Veneto Open.
Krueger has had some nice success recently, as she reached the quarter-finals at the Brisbane International last year and also got to the final at the Abu Dhabi Open. In addition, she ousted Elena Rybakina in a solid run at last year’s Miami Open.
She hasn’t enjoyed much success to this point in 2026, and a win here would deliver her best run of the season. That said, Krueger is the more potent server, and her game revolves around dominating with her serve and shortening points.
Head-to-Head Record
| Anastasia Zakharova | Ashlyn Krueger | |
|---|---|---|
Wins | 0 | 0 |
Losses | 0 | 0 |
Total Wins | 275 | 161 |
Grand Slams | 0 | 0 |
These ladies have never faced off at the WTA level, which isn’t surprising given their ages. This will be the first meeting, while they do have a contrast of styles.
Zakharova has more overall experience between the two, but Krueger is ranked higher and has been more successful in a smaller window.
Key Matchup Factors to Watch
Let’s investigate the key Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger matchup factors to decide who will win and how you need to bet:
- Zakharova’s Return vs. Krueger’s 2nd Serve: This applies to all serving, as Krueger can rack up aces, but she’s facing someone who is very good at returning serves. It’s a battle of wills, but if Zakharova can break Krueger’s serve she’ll have a clear path to the upset.
- Extended Rallies: These players are polar opposites. Krueger wants to win on serves and limit exchanges, while Zakharova wants to dominate from the baseline, but extend matches with her endurance and power. If she can do that, she will have a leg up.
Best Bets & Betting Strategy
Check out my top Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger picks:
| Bet | Reasoning | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
Krueger ML (-160) | Krueger is the better player, and she has the more dominant serve. Unless Zakharova can return it with regularity, she should find a way to get the win. | 7/10 |
Krueger Under 12.5 Games Won (-167) | Krueger is headed for a straight set sweep. This is a fun companion pick as it can hit whether she dominates or gets dominated. | 7/10 |
Zakharova vs. Krueger odds remain tight, with value emerging in straight-set pricing and games markets. Track line movement at our top sports betting sites.
Risk Factors & Things to Watch
Things don’t always go as planned in tennis betting. Here’s how my Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger bets could miss the mark:
- Return Serve: If Zakharova’s strong return game comes into play, this could be a tough matchup for Krueger. Losing that advantage could trim Krueger’s advantage enough for Anastasia to pull off the upset.
- Pushed to the Edge: Zakharova can also extend rallies and tire out her opponent, so she has two weapons at her disposal. If he deploys both effectively, she could stage the upset, or simply force Krueger to the brink. A Krueger loss, extra set, or even one of the sets going to the wire would result in a missed pick.
The Bottom Line: Krueger’s Serve Dominates, Sends Zakharova Packing
Krueger is undeniably the better player right now, and she has the biggest edge in this matchup, which is her powerful serve. Even if Zakharova’s return game shows up, she needs to be dominant in that regard, and she isn’t a reliable threat to convert on her own serves.
Ultimately, the best Anastasia Zakharova vs. Ashlyn Krueger prediction is that the favored Krueger pulls out the win. Her ace production, strong second serve win rate, and superior breakpoint defense are a pretty tough combination for her opponent to overcome.
Despite tight pricing, the odds don’t account for the fact that Zakharova really needs a lot to go right to win this matchup. All things considered, Krueger is an exceptional value at her -160 price, and she’s also a very strong bet to close this thing out in straight sets.
Final Prediction Summary
- Match Winner – Ashlyn Krueger (-154) | Confidence: 7/10
- Krueger Games Won – Under 12.5 (-165) | Confidence 7/10
