{"id":65023,"date":"2024-03-13T11:46:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/?p=65023"},"modified":"2024-03-13T11:46:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:46:15","slug":"a-look-at-rising-american-star-peyton-stearns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/tennis\/2024\/03\/13\/a-look-at-rising-american-star-peyton-stearns\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at the Rising American Star That Is Peyton Stearns"},"content":{"rendered":"

On Mar. 9, 22-year-old American Peyton Stearns took center stage at Stadium 1. She was about to take on No. 2 seeded Aryna Sabalenka at the self-proclaimed “Tennis Paradise” in the Indian Wells desert.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little did the 15,000-person crowd know that Stearns was about to take one of the best players in the world to the brink. For two hours and 55 minutes, spectators held onto the edge of their seats as they witnessed three sets filled with tense emotions, prolonged rallies, and countless break points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Stearns became a name that echoed in my mind and piqued my curiosity about the player who nearly beat Sabalenka \u2013 two-time Australian Open champion and world No. 2 \u2013 at Indian Wells.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stearns’ <\/b>Journey Thus Far<\/b><\/h3>\n

Stearns was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 8, 2001. She began playing tennis at age eight and eventually attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she represented the Longhorns for two seasons. Stearns would go on to win the NCAA Division 1 Women\u2019s Singles title<\/a>, becoming the first player in program history to do so. She also was a key cog in bringing home back-to-back NCAA team titles for the Longhorns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a four-month injury in her right foot, Stearns decided to become a pro in 2022. Since then, she has reached a career-high ranking of No. 43. In 2023, Stearns reached her first WTA final in Bogota, secured her first WTA 1000-match win at Indian Wells, made a third-round run at Roland Garros and second-week run at the US Open.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Night to Remember on Stadium 1<\/b><\/h3>\n

On a chilly desert night at the BNP Paribas Open, Stearns was about to face two-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka in front of a packed crowd.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The match began to forecast what would become a nearly three-hour clash between the two players, as a tiebreak would determine the winner of the first set. At 6(6)-6(2), Stearns serve drew an unforced error from Sabalenka to give the American the first set. The crowd began to roar as Stearns held up her first in celebration after a 58-minute set victory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This wouldn\u2019t be the end of the entertaining action, as the two players prevailed with their quick serves and defense mechanisms that prolonged the rallies between points. After losing the second set 2-6, the third set would ultimately determine if Stearns was about to make one of the biggest upsets at the tournament. She was not going to go down without a fight \u2013 and she delivered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stearns would go on to have not one but FOUR<\/em> match points in the third set. The pair would battle through a series of breakpoints and match points before reaching a deciding tiebreak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, Sabalenka was able to work through four saved match points and an injury scare, prevailing over Stearns 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-6(6). Sabalenka recalled a conversation she had with Stearns at the net.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s an unbelievable player. She played crazy tennis. She said at the net, \u2018I actually had you.\u2019 She was right,\u201d Sabalenka said in a post-match interview.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The crowd applauded loudly as Stearns exited Stadium 1. Stearns had illuminated what she is capable of against the best in the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>