AUSTIN (KXAN) – Former NCAA Tennis Singles National Champion Peyton Stearns fell in the opening round of the second ever ATX Open. The former Longhorns star lost in three sets to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová.
After Schmiedlová took the first set 6-2, Stearns rallied for a hard-fought 6-4 second set victory. The crowd was heavily in favor of the Texas ex.
“For me, I think it helps a lot when the crowd is for me ch anting,” said Stearns. “[It] kind of gives you an adrenaline rush and it pushes you to dig deep.”
Behind that push from the crowd, Stearns fought to be up 5-4 on serve in the final set. Having a tough year, Stearns has been in make-or-break moments before and could be heard telling herself to focus in that game.
“I’ve had some tough three-set losses the last couple months. Sometimes I self destruct in those moments and get tense because I feel like I have it.”
Schmiedlová was able to fight back and break serve to make it 5-5. Then the Slovakian held serve before breaking Stearns again to claim the thrilling match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.
“When you’re losing a lot lately, it’s just another loss,” said an honest Stearns.
The former Longhorn will be back in action Wednesday playing doubles with Sloane Stephens in a match that won’t start before 4:30 p.m.