American Tennis Star Requests Action Against Fan After Australian Open Win
American tennis player Peyton Stearns made headlines after her impressive victory over No. 27 Sofia Kenin at the Australian Open. The match took place on January 19, 2026, where Stearns won decisively with a score of 6-3, 6-2.
Peyton Stearns’ Unconventional Request
Following her win, Stearns took to social media to share an unusual request directed at a fan. She asked the individual who “barked” during her match to continue their support in her upcoming match against Croatia’s Petra Marcinko. Stearns expressed her desire for the fan to “keep it up” in the next round, suggesting that the sound may have energized her performance.
Match Highlights
During her match, Stearns showcased her skills with a total of 15 aces and successfully converted 3 out of 7 break points. In contrast, Kenin struggled, accumulating four double faults and failing to find her rhythm against Stearns’ powerful game.
Stearns’ Career Journey
This victory marks Stearns’ third appearance at the Australian Open. Despite her previous early exits in 2024 and 2025, where she lost to Daria Kasatkina and Emma Navarro, respectively, she has shown significant improvement this year.
- WTA debut: 2021 at the Silicon Valley Classic.
- Wild-card entry: 2022 U.S. Open.
- Career titles: 1 WTA title, 5 ITF titles, 4 runner-up finishes.
Stearns, 24, demonstrates a promising future in tennis, with a career that continues to rise. Her next challenge will be against Marcinko in the second round, where she aims to build on her current momentum at this prestigious tournament.
