If you thought Alexandra Eala, the teenage from Philippines, is the only ‘breakthrough story’ of 2025, think again! A 23-year-old American talent is also knocking on the door, after proving her mettle in Rome last week. Yes, we are talking about Peyton Stearns – the WTA star who outshined the likes of this year’s Australian Open queen and her compatriot Madison Keys at the Italian Open. Her heroics on clay have now earned Stearns a special admiration from ex-ATP pro and 2003 US Open winner Andy Roddick, ahead of the French Open. Wait, is she going to emerge as a dark horse on the Parisian clay? Per Roddick, she’s got the potential. So much so, that he’s backing the young American over a star figure like Qinwen Zheng. Really?
Stearns’ event debut in Rome proved to be a game-changer for her this season. Prior to the WTA 1000 tournament, her form wasn’t really kicking in. However, the momentum changed when she began the campaign with a solid, straight-set win over Italy’s Nuria Brancaccio. In R64, she then edged out Russian star Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets. But everyone took notice of the 23-year-old American when she pulled off the biggest upset of the Italian Open this season. In R32, she outperformed compatriot and 2025 AO champion Madison Keys in a thrilling three-setter with a score line of 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3). She then stunned four-time slam champion Naomi Osaka, in the R16 in yet another decider before crushing Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in a third-straight three-set battle, to reach the semis.
Impressed by Stearns’ stunning run at the Italian Open, Roddick has now made a mind-boggling prediction. According to him, the American WTA star is capable of ousting China’s Qinwen Zheng, should they meet in the fourth round at the Roland Garros. In an episode of his Served podcast, dated May 23, he was talking to journalist Jon Wertheim. When the latter asked him to make a prediction for women’s singles draw, he said, “You ready for my first upset special?” To this, Wertheim replied, “I know where you are going? Alright, what do you got?” Roddick revealed, “I have Peyton Stearns over Qinwen (Zheng).”
Image Credits: Peyton Stearns/Instagram
“Really?”, Wertheim responded in total shock. But then he realized why Roddick has so much confidence in the 23-year-old. “Peyton Stearns is a really fun watch and a real battler. She won three straight matches 7-6 in the third last week, you think that might help your confidence?” Roddick nodded, “Yeah”.
Meanwhile, Wertheim also noted Stearns’ rapid rise following her Italian Open run. “A career high ranking, new coaching situation. A lot to like with Peyton Stearns. That’s a bold pick.” Indeed that’s a bold take to say the least. After all, Zheng has been the Gold medalist from last year’s Olympics at the very venue of the French Open. Still, Roddick siding with Stearns speaks volumes of her exceptional talent. And it’s come out stronger after she hired a new trainer more than a month ago.
Peyton Stearns exudes confidence under new coach Blaz Kavcic
Previously, Peyton Stearns was ranked No.42 before entering Rome. When she ended her run in the semis, the WTA talent got a promotion. Jumping 14 spots, she’s now sitting at the 28th position. That’s incredible, isn’t it? Well, much of the credit for her resurgence goes to her new coach Blaz Kavcic. The former Slovenian ATP pro joined her team during the Madrid Open. There, she managed to reach the R16 before witnessing a sensational run at the Italian Open.
When she beat Keys in Rome, Stearns touched upon the aspects of how Kavcic’s presence has affected her performance. “The results, of course, they show,” she said, as reported by WTA’s website on May 10. “But also my level of happiness and wanting to be out on court is much greater now. He came with a spark and has really helped me fine-tune some things in my game that needed it … When you get more confidence in certain shots, you’re able to do a lot more. Going into Madrid, I hadn’t had a lot of wins this year, but I got that confidence through him.”
She also mentioned that even before their collaboration in Madrid, she made up her mind to have him full time. “Even before my first round, I was like — ‘You’re hired, I like you!’” Stearns further revealed, “We mesh really well. He’s willing to really, really work and I like to work too.”
Previously, she may have been under the radar, but now she will be expected to perform better at the French Open. Can she really carry her dominating form from Rome in Paris? Only time will tell.
Stearns is set to kick off her campaign on Sunday against Germany’s Eva Lys. What are your thoughts on her prospects at the Roland Garros? Let us know in the comments below.
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