Stearns Makes History at BNL d’Italia with Tiebreak Triumph

Rome, Italy — Peyton Stearns made history at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia on Tuesday by defeating No. 16 seed Elina Svitolina in a thrilling quarterfinal match that ended just before 1 a.m. local time. Stearns became the first player in the Open Era to win three consecutive WTA main-draw matches in third-set tiebreaks.

The unseeded Stearns initially took a commanding 6-2, 4-2 lead but lost momentum as Svitolina battled back to force a decider. The match showcased a back-and-forth contest where Stearns rallied to win 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(4) after two hours and 38 minutes on the court.

Stearns’s victory over Svitolina marks a significant moment in her career, as she will now advance to face Italy’s top player, Jasmine Paolini, in the semifinals. Paolini reached her first Rome semifinal earlier by defeating No. 13 seed Diana Shnaider. Currently ranked World No. 42, Stearns is poised to achieve a new career-high ranking following this tournament.

“I’m just really proud of myself for sticking in there,” Stearns said. “I didn’t come out on top as easily as I wanted, but I showed my resilience.” Her recent successes include winning against Grand Slam champions Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka in previous rounds.

Stearns’s journey in Rome has been remarkable. She had not reached a quarterfinal this season prior to this tournament but has played like a veteran. The 2022 NCAA champion from the University of Texas, Stearns is the first player to reach the semifinals at the Rome main draw on her debut since Daria Saville in 2015 and the first American woman to do so since Venus Williams in 1998.

The quarterfinal showcased Stearns’s power on serve, and her discipline in high-pressure moments proved essential. This history-making match also highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis, as she recovered from losing a strong lead, ultimately sealing her victory with a series of impressive forehand winners.