WTA Austin: Stearns Defeats Townsend to Claim Home Title

On March 2, Beijing time, American player Peyton Stearns defeated compatriot Taylor Townsend 7-6(8)/7-5 in the women's singles final of the WTA 250 Austin tournament, triumphing in a marathon match lasting 2 hours and 22 minutes. She rallied from 3-5 down in the opening set and saved two set points to clinch her second career WTA Tour singles championship. This marks the second consecutive year an all-American final has been held in Austin; last year, Jessica Pegula defeated Katie Volynets here for the title. Pegula withdrew from this year's event due to a knee injury after winning the Dubai tournament.

Stearns Wins Title on Home Soil

Stearns' live ranking rose 14 spots to No.48, and this championship won in her home state holds special significance. Three years ago, Stearns earned her first main-draw WTA Tour victory at this very event and proceeded to reach the quarterfinals.

Despite her loss in the singles final, Townsend, partnering with Hunter as the top seeds, won the doubles title by defeating the No.3 seeds Zhang Wei-Huan and Liang En-Shuo 6-3/6-4 in the subsequent doubles final.

Stearns' Path to the Championship

First Round: 3-6/6-3/6-2 Jones

Second Round: 6-0/6-2 Juvan

Quarterfinal: 6-1/5-7/7-5 Sizikova

Semifinal: 6-3/3-6/6-2 Birrell

Final: 7-6(8)/7-5 Townsend [W]

(Text/Editor: Wang Fei, Photo/VCG)