Stearns survives Townsend 7-6, 7-5 for AXT Open title

Two young women, one right-handed and the other left-handed, competed in an all-American final at the AXT Open, a WTA 250 event. Peyton Stearns found herself in familiar territory, having competed for two seasons at the University of Texas at Austin, where in 2022, she was the NCAA champion.

Having attained a career-high ranking of #28 last May, the 24-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, is currently ranked #62. With one career title on the dirt at the Rabat Grand Prix in 2024, she reached the third round of the Australian Open in January (l. Anisimova), and with two top-ten wins on her resume, she possesses a champion’s mentality.

Taylor Townsend from Chicago, Illinois, and a southpaw, has made the most of the wildcard she was awarded. At twenty-nine, this former doubles world #1, is a two-time grand slam doubles champion (AO & Wimbledon).

Though she has yet to win a title in singles, she achieved a career-high rank of #46 in 2024 and has three wins over top-ten players, including Jessica Pegula in 2023 and Mirra Andreeva last season. Currently ranked #119, she defeated Stearns in their lone match to date in the second round of qualifying at the 2022 Western & Southern Open.

WTA

Under sunny but breezy conditions, Stearns won the toss and elected to serve while Townsend chose to switch ends. The fourth seed led 40-15 despite opening with a double fault and held game point with an ace up the tee, but after four deuce points, dumped serve with another double fault.

Townsend missed 4/6 first serves, but with a fabulous forehand volley down the line, held to 30 to consolidate the break for 2-0. Stearns faced deuce but got on the board following two consecutive errors from her opponent. Townsend faced deuce in the fourth game but held for 3-1 with a big serve out wide.

Stearns struck two winners, including her second ace, and held to love while Townsend ripped two winners, including an ace, and held at love for 4-2. Stearns missed 3/4 first serves yet held at love for 3-4. Townsend, serving with new balls, donated her first double fault but held for 5-3 with a fantastic forehand stab volley winner.

Stearns, serving to stay in the set, gifted three forehand errors and faced double set point, yet incredulously held for 4-5 with two well-struck serves, including her third ace. Townsend served for the set but was broken at love following four consecutive unforced errors, including another double fault. She threw her opponent a lifeline, and Stearns, with an ace up the tee, held on to lead 6-5.

Townsend had to hold to force the breaker and did so at love. Although they both lacked consistent power and formidable serves, they persevered with exemplary defense and unwavering grit.
In the breaker, Stearns kicked it up a notch, winning the opening point with an ace out wide, and led 4-1 with another up the tee. Townsend faced triple set point but leveled at six with an extraordinary forehand down the line. Stearns earned another set point at 7-6 but conceded it with a netted forehand volley.

Townsend earned her first set point with a well-struck slice backhand. Stearns rose to the occasion with a well-placed serve, spectacular forehand down the line, and with two consecutive forehand errors from Townsend, secured the breaker 10-8.

Townsend left the court following the conclusion of the first set. Despite donating two consecutive double faults, she held to 30 to open with an ace up the tee while Stearns missed 3/5 first serves yet held to 15 to level. Townsend faced a break point following her fifth double fault, but held for 2-1 while Stearns threw in a double fault and an ace to level at two.

Townsend pummeled an inside-out forehand for 30-30 but dropped serve following two uncharacteristic backhand errors. Stearns donated her fourth double fault and dropped serve when she netted an inside-out forehand, and Townsend gave it back with three unforced errors.

Stearns, leading 4-3, was two holds from the title. The fourth seed began to unravel as the unforced errors continued to mount. With her fifth double fault and fourth forehand error, she faced six deuce, two break points, and lost serve when Townsend crushed a forehand return crosscourt.

Level at four, Townsend held easily to 15 with two successful serve and volley plays. Given her prowess as a doubles player, it’s perplexing why she waited so long to employ this tactic. Stearns, serving to stay in the set, struck three incredible forehand winners to level at five.

With amplified pressure, Townsend focused on holding to compel Stearns to level. At 30-30, she missed a first serve and paid the price as Stearns unloaded on the forehand return down the line and broke when Townsend netted a backhand.

The former Texas Longhorn opened the twelfth with an overhead smash, reached double match point, and converted her first with an unreturnable forehand. After close to 2 ½ hours, Stearns claimed her second career title and first on hardcourt.

It was a highly competitive, dramatic final distinguished by exceptional defense, determination, and footwork. Stearns finished with 8 aces, 5 double faults, and won 66% of first and 55% of second serve points. She was equally effective when returning, winning 30% of first and an impressive 65% of second serve return points. She saved 4/7 break points while converting 4/6. Next stop, the WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells.