Peyton Stearns Claims Austin Open: Beats Townsend in Thrilling Final

Peyton Stearns wins WTA Austin title, beats Taylor Townsend

Peyton Stearns defeats Taylor Townsend 7-6(8), 7-5 to win the Austin Open, claiming her second WTA title.

Stearns beats Townsend in Austin final, adds hardcourt title to Rabat clay crown...

Peyton Stearns has won her second WTA title, defeating Taylor Townsend 7-6(8), 7-5 in the Austin Open final. The hometown favorite, who played college tennis at the University of Texas at Austin, showed incredible resilience to come back from a set point deficit and claim the victory.

LONGHORN LEGEND ➡️ AUSTIN CHAMPION🤘@peyton_stearns secures her first Austin title, defeating Townsend 7-6(8), 7-5! #ATXOpen pic.twitter.com/gyjcrwOISh

— wta (@WTA) March 1, 2026

Stearns, seeded fourth, took two hours and 22 minutes to overcome Townsend, a former doubles world number one making her first WTA singles final appearance. This win marks Stearns' second WTA title, adding to her 2024 Rabat clay court trophy.

Townsend broke Stearns early, but couldn't capitalize on set points in the ninth game. Stearns broke back in the 10th, and they headed to a tiebreaker.

Townsend saved four set points and had a chance to take the set, but Stearns ultimately won the tiebreaker. Stearns took the first set 7-6(8).

Your 2026 Austin Champion! 🤠🏆@peyton_stearns | #ATXOpen pic.twitter.com/Ldx8UiJR0q

— wta (@WTA) March 1, 2026

The match was intense in the second set, with breaks traded and the score tied at 4-4. But Stearns broke through for 6-5 and served it out calmly to win. She's on fire, adding the Austin hardcourt title to her Rabat clay court win earlier in 2024.