Peyton Stearns vs Solana Sierra
Peyton Stearns played one of the most memorable matches in recent history in Tennis Paradise.
In 2024, Stearns and her heavy forehand stretched No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka to a final set tiebreak in nearly three hours in the second round.
Stearns had four match points on her own serve at 5-4 in the third set and was broken again at 6-5, before seeing Sabalenka claim the tiebreak 8-6.
“At the net she said, ‘I had you,’ and she’s right,” Sabalenka memorably said afterwards.
Stearns entered that edition after a first-round loss in Austin. But in 2026, she comes in as the reigning champion in Austin.
Stearns won her second career title over the weekend when she beat Taylor Townsend.
It added to her fond memories of playing in Texas — Stearns was a three-time All American at the University of Texas.
Stearns, up to 48th in the rankings, has never faced the 65th-ranked Solana Sierra from Argentina.
Sierra has lost her last three matches — but made the fourth round at Wimbledon last year as a lucky loser.