Only Alexandrova was seeded (No. 4). Kovacevic, ranked No. 102, qualified for the main draw; fellow American Li is 85th on the WTA. All will make sizable jumps come Monday, with Li expected to at least crack the Top 60 and Alexandrova the Top 30. Kovacevic is projected to reach at least No. 75.
They can ascend further, of course. But if Li and Kovacevic do so, they’ll have beaten the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Li meets Elise Mertens; Kovacevic faces Felix Auger-Aliassime. Each second set won their semifinal in straight sets.
The Linz final will see fourth-seeded Alexandrova face fifth-seeded Dayana Yastremska. The Ukrainian ousted No. 8 seed Clara Tauson, 6-1, 6-4.