Stearns survives Townsend 7-6, 7-5 ABOUT ax Open the title
Two young women, one right-handed and one left-handed, competed in an All-American final in ax Hapur, a WTA 250 event. Peyton Stearns found himself in familiar territory after competing for two seasons at the University of Texas at Austin, where he 2022she was NCAA champion.
Reaching a career high ranking of #28 last may, 24-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio is currently ranked #62. With a career title on land at the Rabat Grand Prix in 2024she reached the third round of the Australian Open in January (l. Anisimova), and with two top ten wins on her resume, she possesses the mentality of a champion.
Taylor Townsend from Chicago, Illinois, and a southern kisser, has made the most of the wild figure she’s been given. At twenty-nine, this ex doubles the world #1is a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion (FOR HIM & Wimbledon).
Although she has yet to win a singles title, she achieved a career high ranking of #46 IN 2024 and has three wins over top ten players, including Jessica Pegula at 2023 and Mirra Andreeva last season. currently ranked #119she beat Stearns in their only match to date in the second round of qualifying at 2022 western & Southern Open.
WTA
In sunny but windy conditions, Stearns won the race and elected to serve while Townsend elected to change ends. The fourth seed led 40-15 despite opening with a double fault and holding game point with an ace up the tee, but after four deuce points, serve was dropped with another double fault.
Townsend lost 4/6 first serves, but with a fabulous volley down the line, held until the end 30 to consolidate the break for 2-0. Stearns faced deuces, but got on the board after two consecutive errors by her opponent. Townsend faced deuces in the fourth game but held 3-1 with a great wide service.
Stearns hit two winners, including her second ace, and held to love, while Townsend grabbed two winners, including an ace, and held to love. 4-2. Stearns lost 3/4 serves for the first time still held in love for 3-4. Townsend, serving new balls, served her first double fault but held it 5-3 with a fantastic winner with a knife on his forehead.
Stearns, serving to stay in the set, gave away three hand faults and faced double set point, but held incredibly for 4-5 with two well-hit serves, including her third ace. Townsend served for the set but was crushed at love after four consecutive unforced errors, including another double fault. She threw her opponent a lifeline and Stearns, with an ace up, continued to lead 6-5.
Townsend had to hold to oblige the offender and did so lovingly. Although both lacked consistent power and formidable serves, they persevered with exemplary defense and unwavering grit.
On the stroke of the stroke, Stearns hit it with a ladder, winning the opening point with an ace wide and in the lead 4-1 with another up the tee. Townsend faced triple set point, but tied it at six with an incredible lead down the line. Stearns won another set point at 7-6 but received it with a frontal volley of netting.
Townsend won her first set point with a well-struck backhand. Stearns rose to the occasion with a well-placed serve, a spectacular forehand display and two back-to-back forehand errors from Townsend secured the shot. 10-8.
Townsend left the court after the end of the first set. Despite serving up two double faults in a row, she held on 30 to open with an ace to the tee as Stearns missed 3/5 the first still serves 15 to level. Townsend faced a break point after her fifth double fault but held out 2-1 while Stearns threw a double fault and an ace to tie it at two.
Townsend hit an inside-out leadoff for 30-30 but dropped serve after two uncharacteristic backhand errors. Stearns served her fourth double fault and broke serve when she hit an in-out forehand, and Townsend returned it with three unforced errors.
Stearns, leading 4-3was two hurdles from the title. The fourth seed began to unravel as the unforced errors continued to mount. With her fifth double fault and fourth in the fourth set, she faced six deuces, two break points, and lost serve when Townsend hit a forehand crosscourt return.
At level four, Townsend held it easily 15 with two successful serves and volley games. Given her prowess as a doubles player, it’s puzzling why she waited so long to use this tactic. Stearns, serving to stay in the set, hit three incredible forehand winners at level five.
With pressure mounting, Townsend focused on holding to force Stearns to level. IN 30-30she missed her first serve and paid the price as Stearns unloaded a forehand back to the line and was broken when Townsend hit a backhand.
The former Texan Longhorn opened the twelfth with a forehand, reached double match point and converted the first with an unreturnable forehand. Close behind 2 ½ hour, Stearns won her second career title and first in the strong field.
It was a highly competitive, dramatic final marked by outstanding defence, determination and footwork. Stearns was done with 8 ace, 5 double faults, and won 66First % and 55% of second serve points. She was just as effective when she returned, winning 30First % and an impressive one 65% of second serve return points. She escaped 4/7 breakpoints during conversion 4/6. next stop, WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells.
