An athlete’s motivation can be based on anything and in Peyton Stearns’ case, all it took was a preference of one outfit over another and a bit of persuasion from gracious neighbors! The 22-year-old is yet to claim a big title or a big fish in the circuit, but she has shown glimpses of her talent on odd occasions. While she made it to R16 at the US Open last year, she won the Morocco Open earlier in May 2024 and now her current run at the ongoing Canadian Open has captured the gaze of tennis fans and her upcoming quarterfinal opponent, Jessica Pegula.

“She’s extremely talented and she’s got a good career ahead of her,” Pegula said ahead of their quarterfinal encounter. But how did the tennis court become Stearns’ home? Well, it all started in the Stearns’ backyard where the neighbors were being the usual neighbors. They observed the young Stearns’ strength: her strong arms. Hence, suggested her parents should “put her in softball.”

However, her mother was not very impressed with the outfits of the softball team, as she said, “I’m not a fan of the outfits.” And that was when the eureka moment came for young Stearns, as her neighbors then suggested a more likable option to her mother, the one they followed: tennis. They said, “You should put her in tennis, they have some really cute skirts.” Rest is history, as Stearns picked up the tennis racquet and never looked back. Consequently, we see the young American ready to make huge waves on the court.

Like most of the players on the tour, Stearns’ career has been a result of her family’s support, her coach’s guidance, and her hard work. Hence, after her rise in the circuit, she didn’t forget to thank her coach.

Peyton Stearns’ gracious tribute to her coach for ‘flipping’ her life real quick

Stearns has been blessed when it comes to people supporting her tennis career. Her parents were adamant about her not giving up on college until she was in the top 50 in the world. While that required a lot of work, the 22-year-old has finally neared the cut-off mark set by her parents. Her college is already in the rearview mirror now.

But the climb and the results have been remarkable for the young American tennis sensation. And she credits her coach, Tom Hill, whom she followed verbatim, or in her words, like a “robot.” 

After making it to two successive quarterfinals at WTA 125 Saint-Malo, FR, and WTA 250K Parma, IT, Stearns said, “Tom came in and kind of took my life and flipped it real quick and in a good way. The results so far speak for themselves but it’s not just the title, it’s everything. I thought I was training hard before but it was nowhere near enough. I needed to train harder, I did, I am. It’s paying off.” 

However, that was some time back. And now the World No.53 has moved further with some more wins and another quarterfinal. Certainly, she would love to carry the momentum into the US Open.

What do you think about Peyton Stearns’ journey so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below.