Former Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will play in the ATX Open later this month.

Why it matters: Even though she's not the player she once was — she's ranked 549th in singles and 145 in doubles — Williams still brings glamor to the young tournament.

What they're saying: "I'm so excited to be heading to Austin and playing my first ATX Open," Williams told Axios in a texted statement. "The city has such great energy and I've heard the fans are incredible."

The big picture: The legendary and beloved player has been indefatigable in her efforts to regain glory on the court.

• Earlier this year, Williams, 45, became the oldest woman to compete in an Australian Open singles main draw.
• She lost in the first round, but not before taking a 4-0 lead in the third set against opponent Olga Danilovic.

Zoom in: Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 6 in the world, will be back in the Austin draw to defend her title, after making it to the semifinals in the Australian Open.

• Also in the mix at the WTA event, Peyton Stearns, a University of Texas alumna and NCAA champion; Australian Ajla Tomljanović, a three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist; and rising American star Iva Jovic, who reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in Melbourne.
• "This is our strongest player field yet," tournament director Christo Van Rensburg tells Axios. "With Venus joining the action... we couldn't be more excited for what awaits."

The intrigue: Williams' sister, Serena, declined to rule out a comeback in a recent appearance on NBC's Today show.

• Another potential fan for Venus Williams in the stands: Her husband, Danish-Italian actor and model Andrea Preti. The pair married in December.

The bottom line: Venus Williams will play in the singles and doubles draw at the ATX Open, which launched in 2023.

If you go: The tournament runs Feb. 21 to March 1 at Westwood Country Club.

• Tickets range from $10 a day for the qualifying rounds to $65 to watch the singles and doubles finals.

Parents can start applying today for Texas school vouchers.

Why it matters: The $1 billion program gives families state money for private school tuition or to pay for homeschooling.

Catch up quick: Gov. Greg Abbott has long supported the idea, and after the effort came up short in the Legislature in 2023, he spent millions of dollars backing pro-voucher Republican primary challengers to legislators who opposed vouchers.

• The measure passed last year, largely along party lines, and over the objections of public school advocates that vouchers will harm public schools.

How it works: Families can apply to receive $10,474 to help pay for private school for the 2026–27 school year. The children must meet Texas residency requirements and be U.S. citizens.

• Homeschooled students may qualify for up to $2,000 a year.
• Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 to attend a private school.

State of play: The application window for next school year is open until March 17.

By the numbers: There are 137 schools in greater Austin currently participating in the program.

• Most of the schools focus on elementary education.

What's next: Parents can register to attend an information session at 11am on Feb. 28 at the Millennium Entertainment Complex in East Austin to learn more about the funds.

• Go to educationfreedom.texas.gov to apply.

🖼️ Quimera Gallery ATX, an arts and events space at Rosewood Avenue and Chicon Street, is now open. (Community Impact)

👋 South First Street restaurant Little Mexico is closing after nearly four decades in business. (CultureMap Austin)

💼 Federal authorities allege a $3.4 billion Medicare fraud scheme connected to a Russian citizen living in Austin. (KXAN)

🩺 Stat du jour

Nearly 4.2 million Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2026, a more than 5% increase from last year, per federal data.

• The final numbers show that enrollment exceeded the expectations of policy experts who were concerned it would drop with the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies.

In our special business brief newsletter Monday afternoon, we asked if you could identify the person in the photograph above, left.

• About 50 of you wrote in with the correct answer: Michael Dell.
• Some of you even said you are — or have been — his employee.

The bottom line: Dell famously spent $1,000 on computer parts to start his company out of his University of Texas dorm room in 1984.

• Forbes now pegs his net worth at north of $130 billion.

The Winter Olympics will debut a new sport and multiple new medal events at Milano-Cortina 2026.

Why it matters: The additions push the Games toward greater gender equity.

State of play: The new sport is called ski mountaineering or "skimo."

• Athletes climb up snow-covered terrain — sometimes on skis, sometimes on foot — switch gear mid-race, then ski down.
• There will be a men's and women's event as well as a team-based mixed relay.

🏅 New medal events

Women's doubles luge

• Doubles luge has existed since the 1960s, but women haven't competed in it until now.

Women's large hill ski jumping

• Women will join the action on the Olympic stage for the first time.

What's next: Preliminary events begin today, with the official opening ceremonies on Friday.

💭 Our thought bubble: Austin is more of a summer games type of town — the University of Texas has no ski team, but it has a damn good track squad — yet watching weird sports has its cathartic pleasures.

Three other events